SAINTS sunk deeper into
relegation trouble after a
1-0 defeat at Cardiff.
Nigel Pearson's side lost to a sixth
minute Paul Parry goal at Ninian
Park and other results were not kind
to his side and they finished the day
just one place and one point above
the drop zone.
It leaves them plenty of work to do
in the remaining five games of the
season and desperately in need of
picking up a bit of form as soon as
possible if they are avoid the
unthinkable drop out of the
Championship at the end of this miserable
campaign.
Saints had a great chance to take
the lead just 52 seconds into the
match.
Jhon Viafara backheeled the ball in
the area to Mario Licka who curled
his first time right-footed shot wide
of the far post from 12 yards.
It was a lively start from Saints who
created a half chance when Adam
Hammill got down the left and picked
out Stern John but, having to stretch,
his volley went well over the bar.
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But despite all that it was Cardiff
who took the lead on six minutes.
Cardiff worked a quick throw to
Steve Thompson, Saints appealed for
offside but it wasn't given and from
the right by-line his slide just managed
to keep the ball in play and he
cut back a cross to Parry whose first
time volley from six yards out flew
into the top corner for 1-0.
The new formation Pearson was
employing meant that Licka,
Viafara, Hammill and at times Jason
Euell were trying to get up quickly to
support him but the trouble was they
were struggling to get the ball into
him.
Saints did create another glimmer
of a chance on 24 minutes when a
chipped ball from the left picked out
the run of Viafara but he sidefooted
wide from a tight angle.
But a minute later Saints could
count themselves lucky to be just one
goal behind when Gavin Rae laid the
ball into the path of Joe Ledley whose
sidefooted shot from ten yards out
was well saved by the feet of Richard
Wright.
Moments later Peter Whittingham
fired in an effort from 20 yards that
flashed over the bar.
Licka whipped a corner across the
face of the six-yard box on the half
hour mark but nobody could get on
the end of it.
Saints did have the ball in the net
on 36 minutes but John's finish into
the far corner was ruled out for offside
and there were few protests as
the ball had reached him via a tackle.
After Rae had a slashed an effort
over the bar Licka looked as though
he was going to get through only for
a good last ditch tackle from Aaron
Ramsey to deny him.
Saints managed a first shot on target
in stoppage time with Wayne
Thomas' overhead kick landing in
the arms of Peter Enckleman but at
half-time it was still Cardiff leading
1-0.The second half started much as
the first has ended.
The game was pretty scrappy with
Cardiff looking the sharper in attack
but Saints still in the game.
They should have equalised on 52
minutes when Saints got the ball
back into the six-yard box after
Thomas' header from a corner had
been saved by Enckleman.
It came quickly to John at the far
post but he failed to get any kind of a
decent connection on the ball and it
went almost between his legs and
trickled wide.
There was no questioning John's
contact with the ball on 59 minutes
when he took down Viafara's rightwing
cross on his chest and spun and
hit the ball from six yards out.
It seemed destined for the back of
the net but Glenn Loovens somehow
managed to get across and block it
with a superb sliding tackle.
Saints made their first change on
the hour mark with Bradley Wright-
Phillips coming on for Viafara.
Saints switched to a 4-4-2 formation
with Hammill on the right of midfield,
Licka on the left and Wright-
Phillips partnering John in attack.
Whittingham came close with a
strike from 25 yards on 63 minutes
when he cut in from the right but his
left-footed shot flashed wide of the
target.
Hammill tried an audacious chip
cutting in from the right five minutes
later but it floated over the
bar.
Saints had suddenly stepped their
game up and for the first time looked
the better team and as if they would
create another decent chance.
Cardiff made their first switch on
66 minutes with Trevor Sinclair
replacing Whittingham.
Euell had to be strong in the centre
of his own six-yard box as Cardiff
threatened after the referee ignored
the linesman's flag for offside. He
was but got injured in the process
and was replaced by Andrew
Surman who went to the left of midfield
with Licka moving to the
centre.
Saints made their final
change on 79 minutes with
Vincent Pericard coming on for
Licka as Saints went for a 4-3-3
formation.
Surman tried his luck from 25
yards with nine minutes
remaining but his shot went
over the bar.
Saints were really pushing Cardiff
back and the Welsh side were wobbling
and just holding on for the final
whistle.
Hammill got a shot on target from
outside the area on 84 minutes but it
was straight at Enckelman who got
down and held on to the ball.
But after a Hammill free kick was
lobbed straight behind and he started
a furious row with Wright-
Phillips Cardiff regained their composure.
Saints were given a lift when the
fourth official held up the board and
showed four minutes of stoppage time.
Thomas became the first player in
the book after a tussle for the ball
before Cardiff made a second switch
with Riccardo Scimeca replacing
Thompson.
That proved to be virtually the
last action of the match and ended
with another defeat for Saints on
the road.
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