By Dylan Macisaac
Cardiff City’s gradual ascent up the Championship table continued as they battled to a 2–1 victory over Derby County.
Omer Riza’s side took the spoils in a bottom of the table clash at Cardiff City Stadium that saw goals from in–form Callum Robinson and Anwar El–Ghazi condemn the visitors to their seventh loss in a row in all competitions.
For Cardiff this was an eighth game unbeaten in a brilliant string of results that leaves them in 18th place, four points above Derby who mark the top of the drop zone in 22nd.
In a first half in which neither team inspired, it was the hosts who started stronger with Joe Ralls seeing a dipping long–range effort well–saved by County shot stopper Jacob Widell Zetterström.
The east midlands outfit thought they had broken the deadlock with Jerry Yates finding the net from close range n the 11th minute only for an offside decision to be given against Craig Forsyth.
Cardiff replied in the 13th minute when a slip from Ryan Nyambe allowed Chris Willock through on goal, but a strong recovery tackle from the Naimbian cleared any danger.
The home side’s ‘keeper Joe Alnwick suffered a knock but was able to play on during an onslaught of chances from the visitors that was littered with Cardiff defensive errors.
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A lacklustre first 45 was followed by a period of madness, kickstarted in the 55th minute with Cian Ashford’s looping cross almost beating Widell Zetterström who saved well on the rebound from Callum Robinson.
Robinson was involved again to open the scoring in the 62nd minute.
The Irish international pounced well on his own rebounded shot from the right corner of the six–yard box to snag his 11th league goal of the season.
He was back in the thick of the action just two minutes later, setting up substitute Anwar El–Ghazi in acres of space down the left, who slotted coolly to the ’keeper’s left to double the advantage.
The move was started by a burst of pace on the counter from Ashford, who despite squandering an easy chance in the 67th minute, made an impressive impact again for his hometown club.
The sudden wave of scoring was continued by the Rams’ Lars–Jorgen Salvesen 20 minutes from time when he converted an inviting cross from Yates to bolster the rowdy travelling fans’ hopes.
Salvesen went close on several occasions following his goal and was bundled down in the penalty area a minute after his goal, with referee Dean Whitestone ignoring vociferous penalty appeals.
A dazzling solo run from Ashford almost provided a third for the Bluebirds, but Zetterström managed to get the finest of touches to turn it round for a corner.
The home side continued to ask questions late on, with El-Ghazi missing a tight one-on-one and January signing Yousef Salech forcing a good save in stoppage time.
Cardiff have a rare week’s break before they face Leeds United at Elland Road next Saturday in a fixture that will be a great litmus test as to whether they can keep pushing up the table.