IF CARDIFF CITY are to build on their reputation as the Coca-Cola Championship’s dark horses, they will have to curb their generous spirit.
Dave Jones’s team were primed to cement their place at the top of the table after streaking into a three-goal lead last night before a late capitulation handed Plymouth a draw. “It was 20 minutes of chaos,” Jones said. “But we pulverised Plymouth in the first 70 minutes and that’s what we need to take away from this game.”
Steven Thompson put the visiting team ahead before Michael Chopra twice took advantage of defensive errors.
Then the comeback began. Kevin McNaughton sliced into his own net and, moments later, Sylvan Ebanks-Blake stabbed the ball over the line after a goalmouth scramble. In the dying seconds Darren Purse headed over his own goalkeeper to complete an extraordinary night.
PLYMOUTH ARGYLE (4-4-2): L McCormick — A Barness (sub: A Buzsaky, 57min), H Aljofree, M Doumbe, L Hodges — D Norris, P Wotton (sub: L Nalis, 57), T Capaldi, L Summerfield — B Hayles, S Ebanks-Blake (sub: N Chadwick, 85). Substitutes not used: M Seip, R Reid. Booked: Hayles.
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CARDIFF CITY (4-4-2): N Alexander — K Gilbert, D Purse, R Johnson, K McNaughton — P Parry (sub: W Flood, 82), S McPhail, R Scimeca, J Ledley — M Chopra, S Thompson (sub: K Campbell, 82). Substitutes not used: L Giombard, M Kamara, D Blake. Booked: McNaughton, Ledley, Chopra, Johnson, Gilbert.
Referee: S Tanner.