Jones frustrated by missed chances

25 March 2010 08:02
The Bluebirds controlled the game for long periods but they could not capitalise on their many opportunities and dropped two points.[LNB]Jay Bothroyd put Cardiff ahead a minute before the break with a stunning shot but the visitors levelled in the 66th minute when Stephen Quinn followed up to tap a rebound into the net.[LNB]It was a fiercely-contested match with seven players booked by referee Danny McDermid, five of those from the visitors as both sides looked to maintain their play-off hopes.[LNB]Jones felt his side should have scored more than one goal in the first half.[LNB]He said: "Chances were there to win the game and it was one-way traffic for most of the match as we battered them but one mistake has cost us.[LNB]"It was a fantastic goal by Jay but one is not enough certainly against a big side like Sheffield United and they scored with their only chance.[LNB]"I don't think the referee helped us at all tonight as they kept stopping the flow of the game with fouls and he did little about it.[LNB]"I cannot appeal against Jay's yellow card and now we have to do without him for two matches.[LNB]"Referees must be strong but unfortunately tonight he has allowed them to get away with far too much."[LNB]The tone for the match was set as early as the third minute when Paul Connolly was booked and he was quickly followed by Nyron Nosworthy.[LNB]The injury-hit Blades strung five across midfield and left Richard Cresswell up front as a lone striker but the Bluebirds were still on top in a one-sided first half.[LNB]One minute before the break Chris Burke crossed to Bothroyd and the skipper lashed a 20-yard bullet into the net leaving Blades keeper Steve Simonsen rooted to the spot.[LNB]The Bluebirds continued the same way in the second half but their defence switched off just after the hour when a throw-in was worked to substitute Mark Yeates whose shot was palmed away by City keeper David Marshall.[LNB]Quinn nipped in and tapped the ball over the line for the equaliser.[LNB]Michael Chopra struck the visitors' crossbar in the closing minutes but the Bluebirds were unable to breach the Blades' defence.[LNB]"We knew it would be tough playing in Cardiff with a patched-up side," said United manager Kevin Blackwell.[LNB]"Defeat tonight would have been very costly as far as our play-off hopes are concerned and now perhaps we can get a few players back fit as we are still in a position to fight for it.[LNB]"We worked hard for that point tonight and I know we have the right attitude so that should be recognised as it was a real achievement to get that point tonight.[LNB]"When you realise that I was forced to put on two unfit players from the bench you can understand why we are so delighted to have earned a point."[LNB][LNB]

Source: Team_Talk