Cardiff 0-3 Southampton - Jay Rodriguez Double Intensifies Pressure On Malkay Mackay
Clinical finishing from Southampton put the game out of sight after just 30 minutes to put an end to Southampton's winless streak and intensify the pressure on Malkay Mackay. A double for Jay Rodriguez and a goal from his England compatraiot Rickie Lambert won the game for Southampton who calmly bounced back from the 3-2 defeat from Tottenham last Sunday. The scoring was opened by Rodriguez after 14 minutes before he grabbed his second 5 minutes later, Lambert then won the game just before the half-hour mark - capitalising on some poor Cardiff defending. Southampton were never really challenged although Peter Whittingham gave them a couple of scares with some accurate set-pieces. The first chance of the game came for the home side after 11 minutes. Frazier Campbell creating enough space on the right-flank to put in a far-post cross to find the unmarked Peter Whittingham, however, the midfielder inexplicably sliced his effort wide from 5 yards with the goal at his mercy. However it was Southampton who grabbed the opening goal with their first attempt on goal after 14 minutes. Schneiderlin's long ball found Lallana's run from deep to put the England midfielder through on goal - the 25-year-old stayed composed to square the ball which just found the stretching Rodriguez who poked home. And just 5 minutes later in was Rodriguez again to poach another goal to double the lead for the travelling Southampton side. An excellent early cross from Lambert found Rodriguez's far post run who duly volley home from 7 yards - showing Whittingham how it should be done. The game was producing some excellent crossing - it was Southampton though who were the more decisive in front of goal. Young Southampton back-up goalkepper Paulo Gazzaniga had enured a very tough time since replacing the injured Artur Boruc, but looked improved todayproducing a great save to deny an already offside Turner from a Whittingham free-kick Southampton then put the game out of sight before the half-hour mark. A short corner ended up a the feet of Chambers whose cross caused problems amongst the Cardiff ranks with Rodriguez challenging - the ball eventually dropped for Lambert who was completely unmarked to half-volley home from 8 yards. It was Campbell for Cardiff who forced the first meaningful save from Paulo Gazzaniga - the strikers low shot was deflected by Fonte and forced the Argentine goalkeeper to parry the ball away for a corner. Whittingham though was producing some threatening set-pieces but Cardiff failed to capitalise with Southampton's backline looking more composed compared to recent weeks. It was a quieter second-half, although Cardiff did start brightly to the second-half - another Whittingham free-kick found Campbell but the striker nodded the ball over the bar under-pressure from the Southampton defense. There was two more nervy moments for Southampton once again from set-pieces (two corners this time) the first was just about cleared after a Gazzaniga punch, the second flashed across goal when surely a touch would have been enough for a goal. Luke Shaw had the first chance of the second-half played through to be swiftly met by goalkeeper Marshall who narrowed angle and forced a corner - which results to an easy Marshall save from a tame shot from Jack Cork. Chances became few and far between as Southampton controlled possession - Frazier Campbell came closest with a half-chance but fired over. Rodriguez did come close to getting the hat-trick - only great defending from Theophile-Catherine prevented him from getting the decisive touch from Schneiderlins's volleyed cross and Rodriguez also had a weak header moments later from resulting possession as Southampton comfortably saw the game out.