The Bluebirds were held by Blackpool at CCS on Saturday afternoon.
Brian Barry-Murphy made just the one change from our fixture against Wycombe Wanderers during the week, with Will Fish replacing Gabriel Osho. Rubin Colwill captained the Bluebirds.
City took control of possession after a few contested minutes of play. Ryan Wintle found sight of goal first, but his effort went wide. Ollie Tanner found similar luck as his shot lofted over the bar. Colwill found space on the edge of the box soon after, though his effort went over.
The Bluebirds continued to push for the opener as the half progressed. Alex Robertson received the ball inside the box and beat his man, but nothing was given when he was pushed to the floor as he looked to shoot on goal. Joel Bagan’s cross then beat the goalkeeper, however the away side scrambled to clear the ball from danger in time.
After a good spell of possession in the closing stages of the half, Wintle made a run deep into the opposition's half and found Tanner on the edge of the box. Ollie cut inside, though his curling effort deflected wide.
Tanner found himself involved again soon after, crossing the ball to Omari Kellyman. However, Kellyman’s well placed headed found the gloves of the keeper, keeping the scores level at half time.
It was more of the same from the hosts in the early stages of the second half. Wintle found room to shoot on the edge of the box, but his effort went off target. Soon after, Kellyman won the ball deep in the opposition's half after the defence misjudged the ball's flight. He found himself one on one with the goalkeeper, though his shot was saved. Shortly afterwards, former City winger Josh Bowler came close for the visitors, though his shot was tipped over the bar by Nathan Trott.
As the second half continued, the Seasiders became happier to sit back, making it harder for Barry-Murphy’s side to have a chance on goal. The best of City’s chances came through substitute Chris Willock, whose curling effort forced a diving save from Bailey Peacock-Farrell. Willock found himself involved again in the closing stages of the game, delivering a formidable cross into the box, though the visitors cleared it from danger.
The Bluebirds came agonisingly close in added time, after Wintle’s header from a corner was saved off the line. Blackpool then came close themselves moments later as they struck on the counter, but Trott was there to deny the shot. With the final whistle blown, the hosts were held in the Welsh capital.
Cardiff City travel to face Peterborough United after the international break, on Monday, April 6th. Kick-off is at 3pm on Easter Monday.
FINAL SCORE: CARDIFF CITY 0-0 BLACKPOOL
Cardiff City: Trott, Fish, Bagan, Wintle, Kellyman (Robinson 61’), R. Colwill (J.Colwill 83’), Tanner (Willock 61’), Robertson (Turnbull 62’), Ng, Ashford, Lawlor. Subs Not Used: Chambers, Scanlon, Kpakio.
Blackpool: Peacock-Farrell, Husband, Casey, Horsfall, Brown, Fletcher (Coulson 83’), Bloxham (Ennis 70’), Bowler (Honeyman 69’), Hamilton, Anderson, Walters. Subs Not Used: Ravizzoli, Clarkson, Randall, Ashworth.