By Yousef Haider
Today marked several "firsts"....the first start in a Cardiff City sirt for Nicky Maynard. First home match for Tommy Smith. First time on the bench for South Korean superstar Bo-Kyung Kim (or Kim Bo-kyung). First time I've seen Cardiff this season and the first time I watched Cardiff BLUE birds, play in RED!!! Strange times indeed for Cardiff city fans. However despite the threas the stadium was at least mostly full, and there were more red shirts than blue in the crowd. Despite the cynicism the money had been spent and the signings on show counted as proof.
The opponents, Wolverhampton Wanderers. The FIRST time we have played them in a few years and the FIRST time Roger Johnson returns to face the club that made his name. Luckily for Cardiff I was the FIRST time wolves would have to play without recently departed Fletcher and Jarvis. 20 odd million pounds worth of premiership quality.
The match started at a blistering pace, Cardiff played with a very fast tempo, they lined up in what looked very much like the 442 that the fans had been asking for. With Maynard and Helguson up front.
Within 15 minutes, Cardiff went behind, equalised and took the lead. It really was a joy to behold. The atmosphere was rocking right from kick off and the crowd seemed energised by the exciting talent on display.
Wolves went ahead through a very soft goal from a free kick that had more than a touch of a fortune about it.
Within a minute, Cardiff were awarded a penalty which Wittingham despatched with the ease we have come to expect.
Wolves restarted the match and with City's very next attack a beautifull pull back from some slick passing found Wittingham who stroked home his second goal of the game.
The crowd roared into life everytime Maynard sprung into life and Craig Noone was having a specacular debut with his mazy dribbles. Cardiff were in control of the match from start to finish in the first half but outside of the first 15 minutes there was little else to comment on.
As the second half kicked off, I had realised that bar any freak incident, Man of the match was probably already sown up. All that remained was debut of the match. Maynard and Noone had both really won over the Cardiff faithful already inside 45 minutes. I'm struggling to think of two better, more dazzling debuts for Cardiff.
One hour done, 30 minutes to play and really it was all Cardiff. Wolves seemed unable to create any sort of genuine opporunities and posed no real threat. In attack they seemed to be really missing out on the recently departed England international winger and a Scottish international Striker. The defence was doing their part however and counter atack after counter attack from Cardiff was staved off.
Tommy Smith put in a shift of epic proportions in addition to the two newER boys and looks like a magnificent capture.
20 minutes into the second half and Craig Noone was brough down in genuine Wittingham territory. The midfield maestro stepped up and bent a looping ball across goal into the top right corner to sign seal and deliver his man of the match performance, and his hat trick!
One penalty, one from open play and one from a free kick. It may not have been the traditional "perfect hat trick" but I was the perfect Wittingham hat trick.
For the last 20 minutes Joe Mason took to the pitch. Maynard made way to a standing ovation and with Mason taking his place and bellamy not even on the bench it was a reminder of the quality of the squad currently available to the Manager.
The match drew to a close 3-1 the final score. A good day for the blues, a good day for reds, but a bad day to be an orange!
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