By Gareth James
Erol Bulut has admitted Cardiff City are paying the price for missed chances after their promotion hopes took another nosedive.
The Bluebirds’ 2-0 defeat at West Bromwich Albion leaves them back in 14th spot in the Championship, a distant eight points off the play-off places.
It was Cardiff’s fourth defeat in five games – a sequence that has seen them tumble down the table.
January signings Mikey Johnston and Andreas Weimann scored in either half as West Brom earned a fifth straight Championship home win.
1 – Goal. Albion take the lead through Mikey Johnston. (1-0)#CityAsOnehttps://t.co/j7U6Z5EOki
— Cardiff City FC (@CardiffCityFC) February 13, 2024
In their last six matches, Cardiff have scored just two goals and Bulut conceded scoring was now a major problem.
“It’s difficult when you concede a goal in the first minute against West Brom, who are at home, with quality players,” said Bulut.
“It’s not easy but we pushed really hard, especially in the second half, we had chances to score and make it 1-1, with Kion Etete and with Aaron Ramsey.
“If you don’t score, it’s normal that at the end they get the second one, because we were pushing to get the second one.
“Opponents, when they get those chances they are scoring and we are not scoring. This is the difference. We have the chances, but we are not scoring.”
16 – City cause a scramble in the Baggies' box, before @Yaks75 smashes a shot at a defender.
Appeals for handball are waved away by the referee. (1-0)#CityAsOnehttps://t.co/j7U6Z5EOki
— Cardiff City FC (@CardiffCityFC) February 13, 2024
Johnston struck inside the first minute when he turned home Tom Fellows’ delivery from the right.
In the 80th minute, Weimann scored his second goal in Albion colours when he rounded off a smart move involving his captain Jed Wallace.
West Brom manager Carlos Corberan said: “It’s necessary to have options. It’s something key, because if you don’t rotate the players, at the end you have more injuries.
“For us, as a club, it was necessary for us to add more attacking options, because we needed to increase the options we had.
“Right now, we’re using the players, because it’s necessary to have that impact from the bench.
“Our players now know that we have now good options. They believe in the team-mates they have.
“Our attacking players know that if they’re not at 100 per cent, we have others who will be. They understand it’s a strength we have and must use.
“It can never be a problem, to have two or three players competing in every position – now we have those alternatives.”
It took West Brom all of 30 seconds to open the scoring.
🗣️ "We’ve made it this far with everybody including the fans, so for the last 15 games we have to go through them together even if they are hard…"
Erol shares his post-match thoughts with @CardiffCityTV ⬇️#CityAsOne
— Cardiff City FC (@CardiffCityFC) February 13, 2024
Darnell Furlong clipped the ball down the wing for Fellows and he was afforded the space to run at Jamilu Collins before pulling the ball back into the path of the onrushing Johnston who, on his full debut for the hosts, steered tidily beyond visiting goalkeeper Ethan Horvath.
The Hawthorns rose in the 12th minute to pay tribute with applause to stricken forward Daryl Dike.
The United States international ruptured his Achilles in the 2-2 draw at Ipswich on Saturday and he is due for surgery and an extended period on the sidelines.
Dike’s team-mates had worn T-shirts with his name and number on their backs while they were warming up before kick-off.
Despite the early setback, Cardiff were by no means deterred. Josh Wilson-Esbrand hit an admittedly hopeful shot tamely into Alex Palmer’s arms, before Nat Phillips caused problems from a David Turnbull free-kick and sparked panic before Albion hurried a clearance.
The hosts had an opening to double their advantage 25 minutes in, when the ball was worked down the left and Okay Yokuslu turned the ball into the path of midfield partner Alex Mowatt, but he could not keep his curling attempt beneath the crossbar.
From the first minute to the last, and especially in the 12th, you again gave us all the support we need. We will keep going together @WBA pic.twitter.com/FBslEU1hdl
— Carlos Corberán (@CarlosCorberan) February 13, 2024
While the score remained at one, Cardiff were always encouraged, yet there was little to report by way of second-half action until Kion Etete passed up a glaring opportunity to level for the visitors.
Wilson-Esbrand sent a deep cross to the back post, where the ball was cushioned down by Aaron Ramsey for Etete.
From inside the six-yard box, he could only lift the ball over the bar.
While those Cardiff substitutes did not combine successfully, West Brom’s did.
With 10 minutes remaining, Albion broke through Nathaniel Chalobah who set loose winger Wallace down the right.
His cross was pinpoint for Weimann, who rolled the ball home to make the points secure.
The boss has his say on our fifth consecutive @SkyBetChamp win in B71. 🎥
— West Bromwich Albion (@WBA) February 13, 2024