Wayne Rooney picked up his first away win with Birmingham City with a 1-0 win, as Cardiff City’s play off hopes dampened with a third defeat in their last four matches.
It was not a game of much quality, with neither side fashioning great chances. Birmingham created the better opportunities, but both sides had the chance to test the keeper in both halves.
Cardiff will feel hard-done by with the sole goal of the game. Kion Etete was hacked down just outside the Birmingham box, but the referee deemed no foul had occurred, and the Blues ran down the other end to score.
Juninho Bacuna – younger brother of ex-Cardiff midfielder Leandro Bacuna – netted the only goal of the game after a lapse of concentration by the defenders, before juggling the ball on the goal line to baffle the City goalkeeper.
With Cardiff boasting a fantastic home record and Birmingham yet to win away before tonight’s game, there seemed to be only one winner – but Rooney’s team flipped the script, and were good value for their three points.
The win nudges Birmingham City up to 16th in the table, while Cardiff City drift away from the play-off places and land on 10th spot in the league.
Manager Erol Bulut will be most concerned about defender Perry Ng, who had to be taken off early in the first half due to injury. The right back has been ever present for the Bluebirds since signing for the club in 2021, and the hope will be that the injury is not as bad as first feared.
Cardiff’s best chances in the game came through headers from Dimitrios Goutas and Mark McGuinness, although Blues’ keeper John Ruddy never really struggled to keep a clean sheet. Rubin Colwill’s last minute free kick tempted a goal, but the keeper stayed firm to retain his clean sheet.
Erol Bulut will be hoping his Cardiff City side can turn their from around when they travel to Hull City on Saturday.
Cardiff City: Runarsson, Ng (Romeo 13’), McGuinness, Goutas, Collins, Siopis, Wintle, (Bowler 58’), Colwill, Meite (Ugbo 74’), Grant (Tanner 74’), Etete (Robinson 58’). Subs not used: Alnwick, Adams, Panzo, Rinomhota.
Birmingham City: Ruddy, Buchanan, Aiwu, Roberts, Sanderson, James, Sunjic, Dembele (Miyoshi 89’), Bielik, Bacuna (Donovan 90+4’), Stansfield (Jutkiewicz 85’). Subs not used: Emmanuel, Etheridge, Gardner, Hogan, Khela, Oakley.
