Bristol City 1 Cardiff City 0: Trundle fans flames of Cardiff fans' disdain

Amar Azam
Monday 17 December 2007 01:00 GMT
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As Lee Trundle was substituted in the 82nd minute to yet more chants of "what a waste of money" from Cardiff City's travelling supporters, few would begrudge him a feeling of delight after this Severnside derby win.

The winning goal, credited to the midfielder, Marvin Elliott, was claimed by the former Swansea City striker, Trundle, who insisted the last touch was his.

There, however, was history between him and Cardiff's supporters, going back to his days at their local rivals, but Trundle did his best to downplay it.

"A goal in this division to win a game means everything," said Trundle, with a wry smile when asked how much a goal against Cardiff meant. "It is such a tough division and the result puts us where we want to be. Every goal is special."

Trundle ingrained himself as a hate figure among Cardiff fans following his antics after the Football League Trophy final win in April 2006 over Carlisle United. Carrying a Welsh flag with an anti-Cardiff message daubed on it and wearing an offensive T-shirt meant that he would not be easily forgotten, even if he moved club, as he did this summer, to Ashton Gate.

The goal, on 57 minutes, settled this scrappy affair but it was the Cardiff striker, Steven Thompson's early sending-off that helped swing the game towards Bristol City.

Up to that point the teams were well-matched. As the half drew on, with Cardiff's attack blunted, the home side began to dominate. As a spectacle, however, the game was ruined by Uriah Rennie's incessant whistle-blowing.

Trundle nearly opened the scoring on 26 minutes, with a fine volleyed effort and the impressive Ivan Sproule came close soon after. Bristol City took the lead when Elliott appeared to bundle the ball in from close range after Cardiff had failed to clear a Lee Johnson corner.

The win lifted the Robins to third in the Championship and just three points off the top of the table. "It is a good feeling to be this high in the table," Trundle added. "We have been through our sticky patch."

Goal: Elliott (57) 1-0.

Bristol City (4-4-2) Basso (Weale, 66); Orr, Carey, McCombe, Fontaine; Sproule, Johnson, Elliott, McIndoe; Trundle (Noble, 82), Showunmi. Substitutes not used: Skuse, McAllister, Byfield.

Cardiff City (4-4-2) Schmeichel; Gunter, Loovens, Johnson, McNaughton (Fowler, 89); Parry, Ledley, McPhail, Whittingham (Rae, 60); Hasselbaink (MacLean, 74), Thompson. Substitutes not used: Oakes (gk), Purse.

Referee: U Rennie (South Yorkshire)

Booked: Bristol City Johnson, McCombe; Cardiff City Loovens, Gunter, Ledley, Schmeichel.

Sent off: Cardiff City Thompson (15).

Man of the match: Sproule.

Attendance: 15,753.

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