By Gareth James
Neil Harris said he did not read the riot act to his Cardiff City players as they staged another comeback to snatch a point at Derby after a woeful opening 45 minutes.
The Bluebirds badly missed Harry Wilson after the Wales international suffered a groin injury during training on the eve of the game.
Striker Kieffer Moore netted his third got for the club with 13 minutes left to cancel out Martyn Waghorn’s first-half effort.
But Wilson could also miss Saturday’s trip to QPR as City’s display – despite the draw – showed they need his guile and vision in midfield.
“Right at the end of training on Tuesday his groin area tightened but we’re hopeful it’s not long-term,” said Harris.
“We’re hopeful it’s a short turnaround. I’m not sure we’ll see him at the weekend, we’ll see how it goes.
“But to lose him (for any time) is a big blow because he has started like a house on fire. (Lee) Tomlin is very close as well.”
I know Harris will bemoan conceding first and from a set piece again, claim that Cardiff should have won and he’s not wrong, but there’s far more amiss than just that. They were not at the races for large stretches, which makes a goal of that quality all the more frustrating
— Scott Johnson (@roathboy) October 28, 2020
Harris added: “I’m disappointed with our use of the ball in the first-half.
“We were the architects of our own downfall. We made adjustments and had a calm conversation at half-time.
“The second-half was much better.
“A great free-kick but pleased with our character to come from behind again.”
Moore bagged the point on 77 minutes when he prodded home from Sheyi Ojo’s threaded pass.
Liverpool loanee Ojo was one of the few players to emerge from the game in credit.
The point – City’s third 1-1 in a row after successive home draws with Bournemouth and Middlesbrough – left them in 14th place on 10 points.
That is just four points off the play-off spot. It is still early days but City look to have a strong enough squad to at least challenge for a top six spot at least if Harris gets his tactics right
Moore and Junior Hoilett did hit the post in a 10-minute spell either side of half-time.
But City badly missed the presence of Wilson against the club he had a loan spell at as well as Tomlin who is still regaining fitness.
Harris had hailed Wilson as bringing a ‘breath of fresh air’ following his arrival on loan from Liverpool.
But in his absence City’s display will have left a bit of a stink with the Bluebirds faithful.
City fell behind on 24 minutes when Joe Ralls tripped up Wales international Tom Lawrence about 25 yards out.
The Rams were without free-kick specialist Wayne Rooney – missing his third and final game after self-isolating – but it made no difference as Waghorn curled an effort into the top corner.
Left-back Joe Bennett – back after injury – denied Derby a second goal on 35 minutes as he blocked Kamil Jozwiak’s effort.
City finally created a chance for Moore five minutes before the break from Will Vaulks’ cross.
Moore did well to direct a header on goal, but saw the ball clip the outside of the post.
The woodwork denied City five minutes into the second-half when Hoilett’s header from a Sheyi Ojo cross came back off the bar.
Sub Robert Glatzel will be disappointed he did not get on the end of a whipped cross but with 13 minutes left City levelled.
Liverpool loanee Ojo – easily the most threatening Bluebirds player – did well to put Moore clear and the striker made no mistake.
But it needed Alex Smithies to save low down from Waghorn with four minutes left to seal the point.
Harris added: “We’re still searching for that rhythm – that’s how I see it. We’re just a couple of points away from where we want to be, but whilst we’re searching for that rhythm, it’s important that we keep up the mentality of not losing games.
“We’ve done that again tonight; that’s five matches unbeaten now.
“We’re desperate to do well, and put ourselves under a lot of pressure. There’s so much more to come from the group, and with games coming thick and fast the team is continuously adjusting.
“Sometimes you want to freshen things up, but sometimes you want a bit of continuity in that side, to help find that rhythm. We will find it, and when we hit that rhythm, we’re going to win a lot of games.”
