Hudson’s run ends as Sky Blues take charge in Cardiff

Visiting Swedish danger man Viktor Gyökeres ended Mark Hudson’s recent unbeaten run in the Cardiff City hot-seat to give Coventry City a first-half lead that they never really looked like loosing.

Bluebirds boss Mark Hudson included in-form striker Callum Robinson in his starting XI following a recent injury. Wales cap Mark Harris also started after his fine goal against Blackburn Rovers in the last home game.

Matt Godden and Josh Eccles came in for the Sky Blues, who were enduring something of a mini injury crisis. Former Bluebird Ben Wilson started in goal.

Coventry began the game at the foot of the table, due in part to their home arena being used during the recent Commonwealth Games as the home of the rugby 7s. This had left the playing surface largely unusable for quite a while. Mark Robins’ men had thus played three fewer fixtures than the majority of their peers. This did not deter some 2,000 noisy fans from travelling to Wales to cheer on their side, who took the field in striking, multi coloured tops.

Gyökeres should have punished a defensive lapse in the opening minutes, but he blazed the shot over with, frankly, something of an open goal ahead of him.

The visitors looked strangely nervous at the back though, as the home side pressed and passed with conviction. Callum O’Dowda caught the eye for Hudson’s men.

Harris and Robinson were certainly on their game – the former WBA man almost giving Cardiff the lead on 16 minutes as he shot narrowly past Wilson from the edge of the box.

The visitors were forced into an early change as Callum Doyle left the field to be replaced by Michael Rose.

Robins’ side forced a series of unproductive corners as they began to establish a foothold in the game. The Bluebirds continued to look the tidier outfit though.

Home skipper Joe Ralls was lucky to escape without a yellow card for a high arm into the face of Frankaty Dabo. Alongside Ralls, Ryan Wintle was having an effective game.

On 34 minutes, Gyökeres was given the easiest of tap-ins from close range after Ryan Allsop could only palm the ball into his path.

Referee Robert Madley booked the scorer on 40 minutes though frankly, it was hard to agree that his use of the arm was any worse than Ralls’ earlier misdemeanour.

This was a different Coventry from the opening stages, as the visitors pushed forward for a second goal. Jake Bidwell was a lively threat as the visitors went in ahead at the break.

Haris almost gave the hosts the perfect start to the second half but his cute flick was deflected wide by visiting skipper Kyle McFadzean.

Robinson had the ball in the net soon after but Madley ruled the effort out for an infringement that was hard to spot from the pressbox.

The dangerous Gyökeres almost made the Bluebirds pay as he drove wide when play quickly switched to the other end.

Robinson’s effort had galvanised the home fans as Ralls drove his men on. Haris again denied from close range. Niels Nkounkou also fired wide from distance.

It was Cardiff’s turn to look edgy now though, as sloppy defensive play almost let the visitors in again. The home side looked short of ideas.

Cardiff really were at sixes and sevens now, failing to find one another as passes went astray. The lively Gyökeres was a real handful as a second goal in the home net seemed likely.

Hudson made a series of changes with the introduction of the pacey Sheyi Ojo probably bringing most optimism for the home fans.

The industrious Harris forced a corner on 78 minutes but the Bluebirds could offer little by way of a goal threat. Robinson went down in an untidy tangle in the box but Madley was unmoved.

More changes as as Jaden Philogene and Kion Etete joined the play for the home side. Robinson hooked a shot over from close range.

Dabato was challenging Gyökeres for the man of the match award though as the visitors continued to hold out. The fingers of Allsop denied Bidwell as the minutes ebbed away.

Allsop raced upfield to add weight to a Cardiff corner in added time but this was to be no late drama.

Jubilation in the away end greeted the final whistle as Hudson’s unbeaten life as Cardiff City manager was ended by an unconvincing display.

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