Cardifff 0-0 West Ham

Have your say on the 606 pages

John Robinson hit the post for Cardiff

The first league clash between Cardiff and West Ham at Ninian Park for 22 years was not one that will live long in the memory.

Both sides went at each other with energy and destructive intent in the first half, but as the game wore on, both seemed to despair of finding a way through.

The two sides produced five goals in their previous encounter, a Carling Cup tie that the Londoners won 3-2 last month, but they were unable to match that spectacle.

It was a bright start for the visitors and Jermain Defoe forced a save out of Cardiff goalkeeper Neil Alexander with a left foot shot.

But West Ham manager Alan Pardew saw his pre-match planning undermined in the 13th minute when he had to withdraw nine-goal striker David Connolly, who injured his thigh shooting at goal and was replaced with Neil Mellor.

Soon afterwards the Bluebirds had their first real opening when Gavin Gordon nodded down to Mark Bonner in the box, but the midfielder lashed his shot well over the crossbar.

In the 23rd minute, David James came to the visitors' rescue, the England goalkeeper saving well with his legs to keep out John Robinson's deflected shot.

Cardiff striker Gordon missed a golden headed chance in the 33rd minute after a Tony Vidmar cross found him unmarked at the far post.

There was an hour on the clock before West Ham roused themselves as an offensive force again when Robert Lee and Defoe both had attempts blocked by defenders.

Just after that Earnshaw had James scrambling low across his goal to keep out a right-footed volley.

Cardiff were unlucky not to take the lead in the 66th minute with a John Robinson shot from the edge of the box that skidded along the turf before bouncing away off a post.

With five minutes to go, Defoe had the ball in the net, but he was adjudged offside and his neat finish counted for nothing.

---

Cardiff: Alexander, Croft, Vidmar, Gabbidon, Barker, Bonner, Kavanagh, Robinson, Langley, Gordon, Earnshaw. Subs: Prior, Whalley, Collins, Gray, Margetson.

West Ham: James, Stockdale, Repka, Dailly, Mullins, Etherington, Hutchison, Carrick, Quinn, Connolly, Defoe. Subs: Lee, Ferdinand, Kilgallon, Bywater, Mellor.

Referee: M Ryan (Lancashire).