By Gareth James
Cardiff’s caretaker manager Steve Morison reckons being in charge of a team that had lost eight games in a row is “fun and exciting.”
Not quite fun enough yet for Morison to claim he fancies the job long term, but if the man in temporary charge can get his players to show the same spirit they found in adversity at Stoke City then he must be in with some sort of a shout.
Cardiff salvaged a point in dramatic fashion against Stoke in a 3-3 thriller at the bet365 stadium.
Morison, Cardiff’s temporary successor to Mick McCarthy, found his side 3-0 down in his first game in charge but goals from Rubin Colwill, Mark Harris and Kieffer Moore rescued a point.
The three Cardiff goals came in theatrical style as they turned it around in the space of five minutes in the second half.
“It was definitely not easy, but exciting and fun – 3-0 down, it’s a different game but the lads were fantastic for that period, and we could have won it,” said Morison.
“It’s pleasing to stop the run of results. We had some really good chances in the game and in the first half but we didn’t take them.”
“It’s not my decision ultimately,” he said when asked about his potential interest in the job.
“You have a plan in life to be prepared for anything and I have always done that.
Managerless Cardiff City , who have lost the last 8 games, score 3 goals in 5 minutes against Stoke City to make it 3-3 at the Bet365… #SCFC #CCFC #stokecity #cardiffcity #EFL (PICS: Pete Stonier – Stoke Sentinel) pic.twitter.com/PegOvmBJja
— Pete Stonier 📸 (@whitehillpete) October 30, 2021
“All I am worried about now is doing this press conference, going to have some food on the coach, driving back and having a day off tomorrow, because it’s been a pretty busy week.
“I am not worrying about anything else other than that. If I get a phone call on the way home to talk about anything then I’ll have that conversation.
“But at the moment it’s not something I have to worry about. The next job is to watch the under-23s play Swansea on Monday night and hopefully keep that run going as well.
“You have to have a purpose in life, my purpose this week has been getting the boys ready to put a performance in.
“We worked all week and never planned to be 3-0 down so we had to go off the cuff with that one.
“It worked and we got it back. The most pleasing thing for me was seeing a team that we had worked on and put together and it came out and the goals came from really good bits of play. That was the pleasing thing.
“A really enjoyable day in the end. It’s been a fantastic experience. Walking off and clapping the fans – I have missed that.”
Colwill’s strike from distance snuck underneath Joe Bursik – who should have done better – to kickstart the comeback.
Cardiff then capitalised on a poor pass from Josh Tymon which was intercepted by Moore. Moore then squared it for Harris to neatly finish and make it 3-2.
Cardiff have scored as many goals in 90 minutes under Steve Morison as they did in their last 9 games under Mick McCarthy.#CardiffCity pic.twitter.com/6YAzuYkVnB
— The Second Tier (@secondtierpod) October 30, 2021
After failing to take advantage of a glorious opportunity in the first half, Moore made it count when it mattered most. Ryan Giles found space down the left flank and played in a low-driven cross along the face of the goal to find Moore at the back post and he slotted comfortably into an empty net.
Jacob Brown’s near-post header had given Stoke the lead inside the opening 10 minutes. Cardiff failed to pressure Ben Wilmot who took his time and clipped a ball into the 18-yard box for Brown to powerfully head past Alex Smithies.
Steven Fletcher then doubled Stoke’s lead in the 16th minute after his strike from distance deflected off Mark McGuinness to wrong-foot Smithies who dived to the opposite side of the goal.
Initially, it was an excellent ball from Harry Souttar to pick out Brown behind Cardiff’s back three. Brown turned, laid it off to Fletcher who then let rip.
Steve Morison becomes the 3rd Cardiff City manager in a row to come back from 2+ goals down away from home in their first game in charge of the club.
Neil Harris 0-2 at Charlton
Mick McCarthy 0-2 at Barnsley
Steve Morison 0-3 at Stoke.🧨🐦💙 pic.twitter.com/Ca26JcPq9r
— Nath🏴 (@NathCcfc) October 31, 2021
Exactly 33 seconds into the second half Stoke scored another to make it 3-0 and Fletcher got his second of the game.
Brown was involved once again as he picked out the striker who elegantly chipped over Smithies. Jordan Thompson won the ball for the Potters and they took advantage.
The result means Cardiff have taken their first point since September as they put an end to their eight-game losing streak. For the Potters, their poor run of form continues as they are now five without a win.