Crystal Palace 1 Cardiff City 0:Anthony Gardner put Crystal Palace on course for their first major Wembley final since 1990 with the only goal in tonight's League Cup semi-final first leg against Cardiff.
Former Tottenham defender Gardner netted for the first time in more than a year to spark jubilant scenes at Selhurst Park and leave Palace fans dreaming of their first semi success in four attempts. Kenny Miller had an equaliser controversially disallowed for Cardiff, who will nevertheless need to show more cutting edge in the Welsh capital in two weeks’ time if they are to turn the tie around.
The carrot of a rare Wembley cup final appearance was being dangled in front of both clubs ahead of tonight’s first instalment of a two-leg affair. Whatever the outcome, the Championship was guaranteed at least one representative against either Manchester City or Liverpool next month.
Promotion-chasing Cardiff were favourites against a Palace side who stunned Manchester United at Old Trafford in the previous round but were only mid-table in the league. The home fans appeared to be still basking in the glory of that victory in what was a carnival atmosphere at a packed Selhurst.
The crowd soon turned hostile as Cardiff dominated the opening exchanges, with a controversial free-kick almost reaching Aron Gunnarsson via a deflection. Speroni just managed to gather Joe Ralls’ shot at the second attempt but moments later — completely against the run of play — Old Trafford hero Glenn Murray mistimed a free header from a corner.
Ben Turner nodded over a much more difficult chance from a corner at the other end as Cardiff continued to hold sway minus a cutting edge.
But Palace grew into the game and they should have made more of another opportunity in the 27th minute when Chris Martin decided to pass instead of shoot, leaving Kagisho Dikgacoi with too tight an angle to beat Tom Heaton.
Miller’s curling cross sailed narrowly wide and Gardner also threw himself at a finish from the Scotland striker but Cardiff’s raids were becoming more sporadic. Ralls sent another finish just wide before Palace struck two minutes before the break.
Martin went close to inadvertently deflecting in Ambrose’s shanked shot and Mike Dean rightly waved away handball appeals against Don Cowie as Palace began the second half strongly. But Cardiff had a handball shout of their own snubbed and then saw what would have been an equaliser chalked off moments later.
Ralls’ volley was deflected narrowly wide and Miller nodded the resulting corner into the net at the far post but Dean had already whistled, apparently for a foul on Speroni. McNaughton limped off to be replaced by Darcy Blake in the 66th minute before Gardner flicked a header wide from another fine Darren Ambrose free-kick.
The visitors threw on Stephen McPhail for Joe Mason four minutes later, with Ralls again sending a mid-range shot straight at Speroni before Palace introduced Sean Scannell for Martin.
Ralls was booked for a cynical trip on Ambrose as the midfielder threatened to extend a 25-yard surge but Palace were otherwise on the defensive as they sought to avoid a potentially damaging away goal.
They ran down the clock by bringing on Jermaine Easter for Wilfried Zaha after Whittingham went close with a deflected shot. Stoppage time saw Andrew Taylor send a rising drive narrowly over the crossbar as Palace held on.
