Cardiff 1-1 Sheffield Wednesday: Lee Tomlin’s controversial free-kick denies Owls

Cardiff vs Sheff Wed
Sky Bet Ch’ship
7:45pm Friday 18th October

Cardiff City Stadium
(Att: 22486)

A late equaliser struck as he secured a point for Cardiff in a 1-1 draw with Sheffield Wednesday in the Sky Bet Championship.
Owls defender Julian Borner scored his first goal for the team midway through the first half, when his first shot movie took Kadeem Harris’ shot outside Neil Etheridge (19), however the visitors failed to build on his early dominance at the Cardiff City Stadium.
They had been penalized three minutes at the time, when Tomlin came off the bench to acquire a contentious free-kick – afterwards he seemed to foul Massimo Luongo – that he superbly discharged beyond goalkeeper Cameron Dawson (87), that seemed to be diverted by Aden Flint jumping about and waving at an offside position.
Victory by a perimeter would have sent Garry Monk’s men high in the table, however the late drama means that they now go up using Cardiff perched in place.
The pace of this match from Wales took some time to increase, as is often the case following an worldwide break, but if it failed, Wednesday were the force and they commanded the match with relative comfort.
Ex-Bluebird Harris drove over the bar from a tight angle 12 minutes and appeared intent, but he accidentally provided the assist for the opening goal yet.
Not that it was a purposeful help, nevertheless. Cardiff failed to take care of a Barry Bannan corner, allowing the winger time to bend a shot goalwards; Borner had flicking the ball past returning goalkeeper Etheridge.
Harris averted an equaliser for the hosts when he snatched at the ball in the foot of Josh Murphy and that he continued his starring screen from distance that just dipped late and hauled off the crossbar with a free-kick.
Cardiff were introduced a lot of chances by their opponents, who surrendered set-piece following set-piece, along with their fortune looked to be running out when they were denied two penalties, and firstly after a tussle between Flint and Liam Palmer and then when Sam Hutchinson seemed to handle inside the area.
The performance by the hosts left lots to be desired, however, the introduction of Tomlin and Gavin Whyte supplied the shot of energy to induce something out of an showing from the side of Neil Warnock.
Plus it had been Tomlin who did the honours, placing the ball into the best of Dawson, who had been diverted by the antics of Flint and winning the free-kick 25 yards from goal, to earn a stage for the Bluebirds.
Naming Tomlin as part of the game may be contentious, as was the situation with his aim, but the reality is regardless of spending a mere 19 minutes onto the pitch in Wales, he was the most influential participant of Cardiff.
The 30-year-old – together with Whyte – inserted his end for the equaliser and the spark in attack was sublime.
Cardiff manager Neil Warnock:”We could not break them down otherwise and that I believed the changes were good tonight. From the first half we had to change tactics and I believed Wardy (Danny Ward) did offer us something different, as did Tommo and Gavin who led as well in the finish.
“Discussing Flint, we have been frustrated that he didn’t get a penalty, even if I am honest. But referees’ve got to start positioning themselves a little better for free-kicks such as that as you get pulled every game today.”
Sheffield Wednesday boss Garry Monk:”I think for the first 55 minutes of the match we had good control we desired. You must do that it is a challenging place to come and you know you would like to turn in into that physical battle. At the 55, by controlling the ball, we managed to do that , but then initial 10 minutes of the second half, we allowed them to take over with this physicality.
“I am a bit disappointed with the free-kick along with also the lead around itbut all in all, it is a point and we deserved that, or even more”
Tomlin’s late equaliser arrived in controversial circumstances, but if it have stood? The distraction tactics of flint worked against Owls stopper Dawson and Monk provided his ideas.
“At the moment, I felt we might have dealt with all the lead up into this free-kick better but I didn’t understand about Flint jumping. He is jumping up and down; he looked in the’keeper to observe where he’s to make sure it’s a distraction and he does it.
“Jumping along with your arms along with performing a starfish jump has become a distraction. I don’t understand why that’s not offside or hindrance. He’s clearly offside and attempting to interfere with the goalkeeper’s eyeline, but there is nothing we could do about it”
Both sides are next in action on Tuesday. Cardiff traveling to face Millwall, in a match although Sheffield Wednesday host Stoke in Hillsborough, at a game live on Sky Sports Action, live on Sky Sports Football Red Button. Both fixtures get under way at 7.45pm.