In addition to the rain, it was a sad downpour that fell on the Bluebirds. Against Stockport County, fourth before the start of the match, the Welsh came away with only one point at home in a match marked by the stretcher exit of Yousef Salech, the team’s top scorer.

From the kick-off, the visitors put pressure on Brian Barry-Murphy’s men. In the 10th minute, as Nathan Trott blocked an opponent’s shot, Kyle Wootton came out of nowhere and finished the move perfectly (0-1). In the rain, the match was tense, with Stockport playing very physically, and we all know that water and electricity don’t mix. Yousef Salech and B. Hills challenged for a ball in the air, and after contact, the Bluebirds’ striker collapsed, but the referee did not even blow his whistle for a foul. But the injury seems much more serious than expected. The striker cannot get up, and after 10 minutes of treatment from the team doctors, Y. Salech is stretchered off in the 39th minute. The Welsh push forward as if to avenge their injured teammate, and the assistant referee announces 14 minutes of added time. In the middle of this, Ollie Tanner, who had been having a rather poor game up to that point, played a good ball back to J. Colwill, and the Welsh international turned and fired a magnificent shot under the crossbar of the opposing goalkeeper (1-1). The two teams went into the dressing room with this score.

A match that won’t break the deadlock

In the second half, Stockport created far fewer chances, Brian Barry-Murphy made some changes and the Bluebirds pushed forward. In this still electric match, the referee was overwhelmed, blowing his whistle for every fall, even those by Cardiff City. It was strange refereeing that took away all the physicality and playfulness of English football. The nine corners in the match changed nothing, and the Welsh side even had a scare on the counter-attack. They had to settle for a draw, with the added bonus of a scuffle after the final whistle in this tense encounter.
Despite this slight dip in form, the Bluebirds remain top of the table, four points ahead of Lincoln. Their next match is at home to Barnsley on Tuesday 27 January.

Picture : Tom Delourme / Sport W