Sheffield Wednesday handed Mick McCarthy his first away loss as Cardiff City manager with a convincing 5-0 rout of the Bluebirds.
Goals from Julian Borner, Callum Paterson, Jordan Rhodes and a brace from Adam Reach condemned Cardiff to a defeat which dented their hopes of a play-off place.
The stellar performance from the Owls, who were without manager Darren Moore due to a positive Covid-19 test, saw them jump off the foot of the table and leapfrog Wycombe Wanderers into 23rd. Meanwhile, Cardiff’s play-off hopes have seemingly dissipated, with an 8-point gap opening up between them and Reading in 6th.
It took only four minutes for the home side to strike as Barry Bannan delivered a corner sweetly onto the head of Julian Borner, who glanced the ball into the back of the net to score his second goal for the club.
Following the goal, the match was rather stop-start with few opportunities materialising for either side, barring a deflected Aden Flint strike that was relatively comfortable for Joel Wildsmith to collect. There was also a penalty appeal from the Owls, when Tom Sang recovered well to tackle Josh Windass after losing the ball in the middle of the park.
However, Wednesday did not have to wait much longer, as Callum Paterson haunted his former club with the pick of the bunch from the five goals. A stunning crossfield pass from Windass was controlled by Liam Palmer, before he unleashed a pinpoint cross that Paterson expertly guided on the volley into the bottom corner.
The home side couldn’t believe their luck just two minutes later, when Reach picked out the top corner beautifully after a freekick layoff from Windass to make it three, leaving McCarthy’s men with a mountain to climb.
Cardiff had two soft penalty appeals turned away by referee David Webb as Jonny Williams, who was starting for the first time since moving from Charlton in January, was clipped by Joe Wildsmith but replays showed that the goalkeeper got a touch on the ball first.
The second appeal came after the ball bobbled in the box, and Williams threw himself into a header before being kicked slightly by Callum Paterson. Once again, the referee was unmoved.
Despite the scoreline, both teams remained unchanged after the break, which saw very little happen in terms of goalmouth action. The first real chance fell to Cardiff’s Irish international Ciaron Brown in the 64th minute, but his header fell just wide of the far post.
Cardiff’s fragilities were highlighted just a couple minutes later, as a quick counter from a corner saw Bannan carry the ball skilfully through midfield before releasing Paterson down the right, who cut the ball back to Jordan Rhodes. He then guided his shot past the helpless Dillon Phillips, extending Wednesday’s lead.
Straight from kick-off, Cardiff missed some gilt-edged chances, with shots from Curtis Nelson, Marlon Pack and Jonny Williams all being blocked in the six-yard box by the resolute home defence.
The slim chance of an away comeback was snuffed out in the 69th minute, as Reach secured his brace. Having carried the ball out confidently from the back, he played a one-two with Windass before calmly slotting the ball home for Wednesday’s fifth.
The only meaningful chance for Cardiff fell to substitute Harry Wilson, who cut in off from the right and unleashed a bending shot that left Wildsmith helpless, but that only managed to kiss the outside of the post.
Considering the other results on Easter Monday, Wednesday are six points behind Birmingham City in 21st, although Rotherham United have three games in hand over both sides.
Cardiff, on the other hand, are now languishing in 8th and seemingly too far adrift from Reading in 6th place for a substantial play-off push with only eight games left to play.
Sheffield Wednesday: Wildsmith, Lees, Urhoghide, Borner, Hutchinson (Pelupessy 82′), Bannan (c) (Shaw 90+3′), Palmer, Reach, Windass (Kachunga 81′), Paterson, Rhodes (Green 82′).
Unused substitutes: Westwood, Brennan, Hunt, Brown, Harris.
Cardiff City: Phillips, Nelson, Flint (c), Brown, Pack, Vaulks, Sang, Ralls, Bacuna (Ojo 72′), Williams (Wilson 71′), Moore (Watters 72′).
Unused substitutes: Smithies, Hoilett, Ng, Colwill, Harris.
