Thorne pierces dogged Robins

Sam Hammam's dream of making Cardiff City the new Wimbledon lives on... but only just. Following yesterday's narrow defeat of Bristol City, the colourful chairman's charges now face a daunting trip to Ashton Gate on Tuesday evening to secure their place in the Second Division play-off final at Cardiff's "other" home, the Millennium Stadium.

At least the omens look good: this was their first win over the Robins since a certain John Toshack was at the Bluebirds in 1971. "Bristol are a really good team," said their modern-day leader Lennie Lawrence, "so I'm pleased we have a goal to take there. Overall, I think we got everything right."

In truth, neither side did much wrong. The fact that they have both been in the top six all season showed yesterday, as they demonstrated skill and invention throughout. The home side played the sort of crisp, passing football one has come to expect from a Lawrence team, while Danny Wilson's men, having won the two League games between the sides this season, were by no means overawed.

"It was always going to be very tight," the former Barnsley manager said, "but I thought my players did exceptionally well. The draw would have been better, but at least this way we know what we have to do in the second leg: find a goal."

Scoring was not the visitors' priority yesterday, as they sat back and tried to hit Cardiff on the break. The ploy nearly worked when, with just over eight minutes gone, their home-grown captain Tom Doherty chipped a clever ball in towards Christian Roberts, only for the centre-forward's header to be brilliantly palmed away by Neil Alexander.

Buoyed by a lively crowd, the home side responded quickly. Peter Thorne gathered possession down the left wing before cutting inside, but his shot was too close to Steve Phillips. The keeper was less comfortable minutes later, however, when he fumbled Andy Legg's long throw and presented Gareth Whalley with a chance. But to his great relief the Cardiff midfielder's effort sailed over.

Cardiff were beginning to take control, but could not penetrate Bristol's well-organised defence. It said much that their star forward Robert Earnshaw barely had a sniff at goal in the opening period.

The Bluebirds emerged from their half-time talking-to several minutes early. Their elegant centre-back Danny Gabbidon soon epitomised the new-found drive, stinging Phillips' hands with a 35-yard strike and then giving the visitors' keeper another scare with a header from 12 yards.

It was a credit to both sides that their passing and control did not deteriorate with the weather. Persistence paid off for Cardiff, as they secured the all-important winner 16 minutes from time. Willie Boland found himself in space down the right and delivered a precision cross which Thorne converted with a point-blank header from four yards out.

Earnshaw should have added to his record-breaking tally of 31 League goals when he found himself clear, but shot straight at Phillips. With the second leg to come, it remains to be seen how costly that miss might prove.

Cardiff City 1 Bristol City 0
Thorne 74

Half-time: 0-0 Attendance: 19,146