Cardiff 2 Sheffield United 0: Sean Morrison and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing keep Bluebirds top with third straight win
Impressive Welshman created a little slice of club history and are one of three Championship sides with a 100 per cent record
THERE seems to be no stopping Neil Warnock’s mighty Bluebirds.
Goals from Sean Morrison and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing kept City top of the Championship and took down Sheffield United.
And they were good value for their third successive league win of the new season.
It is only the second time in club history that they have achieved the feat. The last was 72 years ago.
The Welshmen signalled their intent when Lee Tomlin fizzed a 20-yard shot past the far post early on.
Ten minutes later Jazz Richards struck the woodwork with an absolute beauty from 30 yards.
And the Blades were fortunate not to concede a penalty in the 23rd-minute when Tomlin went over in the box.
The visitors had a decent shout of their own for a spot-kick shortly after when Billy Sharp went down.
And although United had their moments, the Bluebirds coped comfortably with anything thrown at them.
To their credit, the visitors defended with a degree of competence too.
But when they dropped their guard in the 33rd-minute, City should have gone ahead.
Kenneth Zohore latched on to Aron Gunnarsson’s through ball, but pulled his shot wide with only keeper Jamal Blackman to beat.
After the let-off, United grew in confidence. John Fleck had a shot blocked from just outside the box and Sharp was denied a shooting chance by Morrison.
And it was the defender who went up the other end to break the deadlock just before the break.
He met Joe Ralls’ far post corner and powered his header past Blackman.
United could have been level in stoppage-time had Sharp’s volley sneaked inside the post.
Two minutes into the second half, Tomlin popped up at the far post but blasted high and wide.
Zohore hit the side-netting after a slick counter as Junior Hoilett caused havoc down the left.
But United nearly found their way back into it when Paul Coutts dashed forward before his 25-yarder was saved by home keeper Neil Etheridge.
It was Cardiff who bagged the game’s second goal though in the 55th-minute as Mendez-Laing cut in from the left and fired in.
It would have been three on the hour had it not have been for the acrobatic Blackman.
Tomlin’s free-kick looked to be heading into the top corner, but he pulled off a remarkable
Keep up to date with ALL the transfer news and gossip on our blog