Cardiff City 2, Brentford 1
The Bluebirds stung the Bees in this mid-table Championship fixture at Cardiff City Stadium.
After a low-key first half Cardiff earned a 2-1 victory against visitors Brentford, but manager Neil Warnock admitted: “We had to change things in the second half because I would’ve fallen asleep if I hadn’t done.”
Warnock spoke bluntly and honestly to his players at half-time, asked for a higher tempo and that sparked a big improvement.
Bruno Manga and Sean Morrison played together at the heart of defence and did well, while Kenneth Zohore worked solidly for 90 minutes.
“Brentford had more of possession in a drab first half, though I thought we had more chances,” said Warnock.
“We were a lot more positive in the second half and I thought we thoroughly deserved it in the end.”
Dean Smith, Brentford’s manager, said: “We are frustrated because it’s a game in the first half we were in total control of. We could have scored more.
“Our build-up play was really good. Cardiff defended deep and made it hard for us. I expected us to go on and win 2-0 or 3-0.
“But the second half turned into a scrappy affair and had a pre-season feel about it. There was no zip.”
Peter Whittingham scored his seventh goal for Cardiff City to win the game – and proved that his right leg is not just for standing on.
‘Whites’ had created Cardiff’s equaliser when his corner was headed in by Morrison and then hit the winner, a half volley off his weaker right foot.
City’s victory ended Brentford’s three-match winning run in the Championship.
They had gone ahead when Sergio Canos scored with a low shot from Konstantin Kerschbaumer’s back heel pass and that proved the only goal of the first half.
Morrison’s header from Whittingham’s floating corner made it 1-1 and then the playmaker struck with that well taken winning goal.
Bluebirds stay in 14th place in the Championship table, one point behind Brentford in 12th.
There was a real lack of intensity in a match between two teams with little to play for, but Junior Hoilett missed a chance when he shot over when he really should have hit the target.
Allan McGregor, who passed a late fitness test after going off in the previous match, made a quality save to deny Yoan Barbet.
Brentford flooded midfield, while in the second half Cardiff looked to Hoilett and Kadeem Harris to run the flanks and try to open up the game.
Warnock stayed awake thanks to a far more entertaining second half and can feel satisfied with a hard-earned win.
Cardiff City: McGregor, Richards, Morrison, Manga, Bennett, Hoilett, Gunnarsson, Ralls, K Harris, Whittingham (Halford 90), Zohore (Pilkington 89). Subs not used: Noone, John, Connolly, Lambert, Murphy.
Brentford: Bentley, Clarke, Dean, Barbet, Henry, Woods, Kerschbaumer (Yennaris 60), Jota, Sawyers (McCormack 77), Canos (Jozefzoon 77), Vibe. Subs: Hofmann, Egan, Bonham, Field
Referee: Darren Bond