Doubling up!

RAVE: The way we played for the first hour of this game! It was reminiscent of the first few months of last season. We were quick, passing the ball all over the place and causing their defence to panic. Admittedly, the QPR defence looked very shaky from the start, but Cardiff just wouldn't let up and the goals were inevitable.

We created numerous chances and the QPR goalkeeper Lee Camp made at least five one-on-one saves from City attackers - without his input Cardiff could have had 5 or 6 by half time. Ironically, all three goals came as a result of poor QPR defending rather than flowing attacking moves but this was essentially as a result of the relentless pressure put on them.

Cardiff eased a little in the last 20 minutes - it was the second game in 3 days after all - but lets not take anything away from an excellent performance.

Our first double of the season!

NEITHER RANT NOR RAVE: Michael Oakes in goal. Still not convinced about this. perhaps the knock he received last night will give Dave Jones an excuse to give Enklemann a try on Saturday.

No bull!

As you all know I am not a big fan of cup football, particularly when the team is trying to improve itself in the league. The 'romance' of the FA cup has laregely gone these days, as it is yet another competition dominated by the so-called 'Big 4'.

However, it is still nice to see your team live up to its league position and get through to the next round - especially as it is the first time into the 5th round draw since 1994.

A good performance by all accounts to overcome a decent Hereford side, and despite giving them heart with a late equaliser we managed to get through quite comfortably.

RAVE: at the moment we have become a difficult team to beat - an invaluable trait.

RANT: Wolves at home in the next round - I don't mind who wins as long as there are no replays!

Same score - different result!

What a difference a few months makes! After the Sheffield United match in September there was doom and gloom about drawing a game 3-3 after being 3-1 up. Well, in this game we were leading 2-0 and 3-1 before being pegged back, but none of the despondency this time. The performance is seen as taking the game to probably the best team in the Championship at present and getting a result - Dave Jones would have accepted the offer of a draw before the game started.

RAVE: 2000 fans made the trip to the Hawthorns - 10% of the gate. (I notice that despite their high goalscoring and being the best team in the division they don't sell out games). Also, the press seem to be developing a more positive attitude to the team.

RANT: the FA Cup match against Hereford now moved to Sunday. I'm not sure you can keep moving Cardiff kick off times for 'safety reasons'. This also means we have an important league game on Tuesday against QPR on 2 days rest. Time for a few of the youngsters again on Sunday, methinks.

Getting in to good habits.

A good performance - should have been all over by half time but it remained 1-0. Sheffield were very poor in the first half but a little more settled after the break. At times we looked good - very good. The West Brom game next week will be a good test of how far we have come and how far we are going to go.

RAVE: Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink. A good performance and the supporters are starting to warm to him. Nicely taken goal. Although his body is not as quick as it used to be his footballing brain is still active and is proving good value at Championship level.

NEITHER RANT NOR RAVE: Oakes is no Schmeickel - a satisfactory performance and no more. I think I would like to see Enckelmann have a go sooner rather than later.

Bring on the baggies!

What banana skin?

For a few minutes on Saturday I was a bit worried that we were going to make FA Cup history for the wrong reasons. However, sanity was restored after McNaughton's own goal was cancelled out by Peter Whittingham and the rest was fairly strightforward.

You could sense in the build up to the game that the press were itching for a fairytale ending. but we seem to rise above that nowadays. We also seem to have become quite adept at coming from behind !

As stated previously in this blog, I am not a big fan of cup football and it is becoming less relevant in days of Premier League/ Champions League etc. However, this was cup football at its best - the 'minnows' had their moment of glory, the better team had a good workout and won, and a few quid was made aswell.

Of course, Cardiff now have an away trip to Hereford or Tranmere to play.......but that's another day.

Now - let's see if we can pick up another 3 points back in the real world on Saturday against Sheffield Wednesday.

In with the New!

What a difference a few wins and a bit of confidence can make! Can you remember the despair after the Charlton game in November? Was it really only 7 games ago?

Lets not get carried away here - we were not playing the fantastic football that we were at the start of last season - far from it. But there was such an air of confidence about the team. Everyone was working hard but without the level of fear which we had seen earlier in the season.

OK - we rode our luck occasionally and things are only now starting to even themselves out after the happenings of the previous few months. This was particularly shown by the deflected shot where Kaspar Schmeickel was diving to the right post when the ball struck the outside of the left post - a couple of months ago those things were going against us.

Now only 3 points off the play-off places - just goes to show how tight this league is.

Nice goal from Joe Ledley again - I wish he wouldn't - he is attracting a lot of attention from Premiership clubs.