Cardiff 2-0 Bournemouth: Bobby Reid double eases relegation fears

An early goal in each half from Bobby Reid gave Cardiff a 2-0 win against Bournemouth on Saturday, boosting their chances of avoiding relegation.

There were emotional tributes to missing striker Emiliano Sala before kick-off, in what was Cardiff's first home game since a plane carrying the Argentine and pilot David Ibbotson went missing on January 21, with players and fans from both sides wearing daffodils among other commemorations.

On the field, Cardiff were awarded a penalty inside four minutes after a handball from Steve Cook, which Reid converted on what was also his 26th birthday. He added a second 15 seconds after the restart, slotting home into an empty net.

It is a vital three points for the hosts, who are now just two points from Premier League safety, while Bournemouth have now lost each of their last seven away league games, conceding at least twice in each.

After a moment of silence before the game got under way, Cardiff were awarded a penalty with just four minutes on the clock after Josh Murphy's cross hit the raised arm of Cook. Reid coolly dispatched the spot-kick and celebrated by holding up a shirt with a picture of Sala on it.

Nine minutes later, and Cardiff could have doubled their tally. Callum Paterson slid a lovely ball down the right for Oumar Niasse, who then fired a cross into the area for the waiting Murphy. However, it did not quite have the reach as Bournemouth goalkeeper Artur Boruc raced out to smother the pass.

Bournemouth's best chance of the half came just before the half-an-hour mark. Andrew Surman set up the ball from a Junior Stanislas pass before hitting a thunderous strike from just outside the area. However, Neil Etheridge made a wonderful, leaping save to push the ball onto the crossbar and send Cardiff into the break in front.

Fifteen seconds into the second half, and the hosts doubled their lead. After a few passes from the Cardiff kick-off, Aron Gunnarsson slipped a ball through for Reid, who shook off a challenge from Cook, rounded the oncoming Boruc at the top corner before rolling the ball into an empty net for his second of the evening.

Neither side particularly threatened for the remainder of the half, although Bournemouth had another good chance to score in the 79th minute. Jordon Ibe swung in a free-kick, which met the head of Nathan Ake at the back post, but he put the effort just wide as Bournemouth's poor away run continued.

Opta stats

• Cardiff picked up their first Premier League victory in five games (D1 L3), with this their first win by more than one goal since October (4-2 vs Fulham).
• Cardiff have kept back-to-back home clean sheets in the Premier League for the first time.
• Scored just 15 seconds into the second half, Bobby Reid's second goal for Cardiff was the fastest scored after half-time in the Premier League since Marko Arnautovic for West Ham vs Huddersfield in January 2018 (11 seconds).
• Cardiff's Bobby Reid became the third player to score a Premier League goal on his birthday this season, after Ricardo Pereira (Leicester v Everton) and Anthony Martial (Man Utd v Arsenal).

The managers

Neil Warnock: "I thought the whole club was amazing... I think I was the proudest man to be the manager of the whole club today because the fans were just amazing.

"I felt immensely proud and I had pride in everybody. It was as if we had to show everybody our support for him. Coming back to the main stand to see my wife and kids up there, it just hit home that we had done him proud today."

Eddie Howe: "We've been searching for consistency all season and we've never felt like we have fully broken that. We feel like we've really disappointed today. There is a lot of time to reflect now and focus on Liverpool, but we have to sort out our inconsistencies. That is going to be our biggest challenge."

Man of the match - Bobby Reid

Reid had a birthday to remember as he scored twice - his first goals since the middle of December - and took both with confidence that oozed through Cardiff on Saturday. He took his penalty well before capitalising on some ragged Bournemouth defending to cap off a great performance.

Credit must also go to Oumar Niasse who ran himself all over and is really starting to find his feet at Cardiff, as well as Callum Paterson and Josh Murphy.

What's next?

Cardiff are next in action on Saturday when they travel to Southampton in the Premier League. It's a big trip for Bournemouth too who also visit Liverpool on February 9.

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