BL ACKBURN R 1
Ohashi 16
CARDIFF CITY 2
Salech 4, Meite 73
Cardiff City head coach Omer Riza hailed the professionalism of his matchwinner Yakou Meite after he introduced himself with the winning goal in the vital win at Blackburn Rovers.
Meite was a 72nd-minute substitute and by the 73rd minute, he had handed the Bluebirds a crucial lead, heading in a superb cross from Will Alves to notch his second of the campaign.
It was a day for headers, after Yousef Salech nodded Cardiff into an early lead, cancelled out by Yuki Ohashi’s near-post header.
Riza praised his striker’s effort – particularly as he is currently fasting.
Impactful
He said: “The three (subs) at the end were very impactful.
“Will Alves, Isaak (Davies) and Yak were very impactful.
“Yak has been fasting as well.
“The output he’s put out there when he’s come on, it’s a credit to him.
“Really pleased, he’s a good boy, he works hard.
“He’s been patient, hasn’t played as much as he would like which can be tough.
“He’s maintained his professionalism, worked really hard and it’s lovely to see him come on and get the winning goal.”
The win was particularly sweet for the visitors after their home defeat to Luton Town and Riza was pleased with his side’s mentality.
He said: “Coming off the back of our game against Luton, we spoke about mentality and approach and I think we’ve approached the game very well and our mentality was spot on throughout.”
Match action
Cardiff were ahead in the fourth minute, and it was all too easy as Sivert Mannsverk was given time and space to measure a right-wing cross for the unmarked Salech who planted his header into the left corner.
Rovers responded with an equaliser that owed much to Tyrhys Dolan’s tenacity and Emmanuel Dennis’ near-post cross was powerfully headed home by Ohashi beyond goalkeeper Ethan Horvath.
Buoyed by the leveller, Blackburn pushed on and created an opportunity just after the half hour but Makhtar Gueye headed over.
Cardiff were indebted to their goalkeeper for maintaining parity in first-half stoppage time when Horvath produced a stunning save to repel Sondre Tronstad’s drive.
Second half
Dolan went close in the 65th minute, beautifully controlling the ball before turning inside Will Fish but he curled just beyond the far post.
Alves went even closer moments later, spinning away from two Blackburn players before whipping a shot agonisingly beyond the left upright.
They made no mistake in the 73rd minute though and Alves was involved again, sending a searching left-wing cross into the area which was met by Meite who got across his marker to glance a header past Aynsley Pears with his first touch of the game.
The hosts thought they had a late reprieve when Gueye went down in the area and a penalty was awarded, but the assistant referee overturned, and Cardiff registered a vital win.
Cardiff City
Omer Riza is proud of his Cardiff City troops
Championship
OLIVER’S SET FOR BIG STEP
