Five Things: Argyle 5 Cardiff 2

An unforgettable game

It was hard to know what was going on, especially in that crazy five minute period in the first half. As the game between 12th and first entered the 28th minute, it was goalless. The start was bright among the mist and both teams could have scored, and Caleb Watts definitely should have but then it started to drift a little. 

Then it caught fire. Lorant Tolaj scored a beauty, then Bim Pepple added a second. Cardiff pulled one back literally from the restart only for, just a minute or so after, Pepple to head home and restore the two-goal cushion.

It was just beautiful chaos with both teams looking dangerous going forward and dodgy in defence. Even when it was 3-1 it seemed as if it wasn’t going to be enough and sure enough, there was time for another Cardiff goal, a lovely strike from Omari Kellyman, before the break.

Surely nobody at Home Park thought at the interval that the scoreline was going to stay the same. Yet it was Argyle who scored next, though the penalty was soft, and despite never looking completely comfortable, then managed another thanks to the goalscoring defender that is Mathias Ross.

It could have been more than five in the end.

Argyle so ruthless in attack

Tom Cleverley went with an aggressive starting eleven and it certainly shook the leaders up. It was an understandable decision given that Argyle have two of the best strikers in the division, something that could not have been said a few weeks ago.

The transformation of Pepple in the past few weeks has been nothing short of miraculous and his two goals were well-taken and the mark of a forward in red hot form. Before that, Tolaj announced his return in style with a classic striker’s effort from the edge of the area, curling the ball into the corner to give the ‘keeper no chance.

The home team had just a quarter of the possession in the first half, less than 30 percent overall, but when you have such firepower and players who are snapping up even half-chances, it matters little.

Hazard starred too on busy afternoon

The price paid for the attacking display was that Argyle were open elsewhere on the pitch. The league leaders had control of the midfield in the first half. 

Wes Harding had a torrid first half at the left-back position and was exposed on more than one occasion. He was caught out just after the opener first when Cardiff should have scored but hit the post and then forced a fine save out of Conor Hazard.

It was a warning not heeded as, just after the second goal, the loanee from Millwall was beaten too easily once more –though it should be said that he is usually on the right – and this time the Bluebirds made no mistake. 

There have been some goalkeeping issues this season but Hazard had an excellent game. The Northern Irish international could do little about City’s goals but made a number of excellent saves to keep his team in the lead. 

A hard watch but not for football reasons

Despite it being one of the most exciting games anywhere this season, it was tough to follow  for someone like myself who is partially colour blind. The dark green and dark blue were just a little too similar especially when you are trying to follow the game in general and not look at one particular player.

For some reason, both teams were also wearing white shorts. At set pieces or when there were lots of players grouped together, it was particularly hard and added a level of frustration to watching the game that didn’t need to be there.

Cardiff have a white away shirt that would have been completely fine or even wearing blue shorts would have helped. Questions should be asked. 

Now anything can happen

Three wins in a row, 12 goals scored and a feel-good factor around a club that was in a relegation battle until not that long ago. What a turnaround.

Cardiff arrived in Devon looking good for automatic promotion but left shellshocked. It is not often that the league leaders anywhere concede five and while the scoreline does not tell the full story of the game, it was ultimately a chastening experience for the South Wales club. 

The simple point is that if you can beat the best team in the league 5-2 then you can beat anyone. Football doesn’t work like that, of course, but the fact is that at the final whistle, Argyle are three points off the playoffs.