By BTTB
September 13 2006

PLYMOUTH ARGYLE 3(0) v CARDIFF CITY 3 (2) In an unbelievable game the Bluebirds threw away a three goal lead, and contributed to their own downfall with two own goals. In the end Plymouth were searching for a winner. Funny old game football!

The thoughts of one fan who got back late from Plymouth on Wednesday morning....

As City supporters who pay to watch the team, we have the right to complain about the performance. I, and about 749 others, paid over the odds to travel to the fantastic Home Park to watch the Bluebirds and we can be critical.

Yes, we are 2nd. Yes, a point on the road is rarely a poor result. Yes, we'd all have taken fourteen points from our first seven games. However, the way we surrendered our advantage today was very poor and the team showed a distinct lack of leadership and direction.

We started the season as the plucky underdogs. Only a handful of pundits had the courage to tip us for any sort of success, but, almost secretly, many City fans felt we could make a realistic challenge for a top ten, perhaps play-off place, at least.

City started the season superbly. A hard-working, gritty unit which was determined to play good football and win points. The performances against West Bromwich Albion and Birmingham were superb and plucky Cardiff were on fire.
Then came the arrogance.

City at Preston seemed to think they just needed to turn up to win points and the attitude of many of our fans heading to Deepdale was also very poor - expecting nothing else than the win and dismissing any chances the Lilywhites had. We were well beaten and deservedly so.

Tonight, for just under an hour, we played good football. After a nervy start, we showed quality in scoring three good goals and Michael Chopra, in particular, was top draw. He never stopped running.

Suddenly, McNaughton gives up a goal and Plymouth have scored. City fall apart. No backbone. No plucky underdog spirit. Hopeless - from there, it always looked largely inevitable.

We are a small squad, with decent players throughout. However, we probably aren't, on paper at least, genuine promotion contenders. The league table means nothing after 46 games and plenty of teams have finished in the relegation places from even better positions than us. I don't think that will happen for one single minute, but we all need to get real fast and the team needs a strong reality check.

Back to the hard graft, please, City.