Source: Daily_Mail
Cardiff players had drinking session before Middlesbrough defeat
Dave Jones tore into his Cardiff players after discovering they had been out drinking less than 48 hours before the crushing defeat that cost them the chance of automatic promotion to the Barclays Premier League. [LNB]The Cardiff manager gave his squad permission to attend a supporters' player-of-the-year function on Saturday, on condition they remained sober and headed straight home afterwards. [LNB]Instead, Sportsmail understands most of them headed into the city centre for a booze session that went on late into the night. Some are thought to have been drinking the night before as well. [LNB][LNB][LNB] Near miss: Dave Jones can't bear to watch during the defeat to Middlesbrough[LNB]Cardiff were vying with Norwich for the second automatic promotion spot behind QPR but blew their chance on Monday, less than two days after the squad's unauthorised night out, with an embarrassing home defeat by Middlesbrough. They were 3-0 down after barely 20 minutes and trudged off the field at half-time to loud boos. [LNB]After being left once more to battle it out in the play-offs, Jones apologised to supporters for his side's shortcomings against Middlesbrough. [LNB]When he subsequently discovered the players' late-night antics may have been a contributory factor, he laid into them and labelled them 'unprofessional'. [LNB] Misery: Cardiff fans were left stunned by their team's slump against Boro[LNB]Despite his record for courting trouble in Cardiff, Craig Bellamy is not thought to have been among the late-night revellers. [LNB]Jones called his team's defeat - Cardiff's heaviest home loss since their final match at Ninian Park against Ipswich in April 2009 - a 'big kick in the teeth'.[LNB] He added: 'We just didn't seem to get going. Did the pressure get to us? No. It was like someone threw a blanket over their goal.[LNB] 'The first two goals were schoolboy goals to give away. Then we lost our discipline and people were running all over the shop. We just needed to get them in (the dressing room) and settle them down and regroup, but unfortunately we conceded the third.[LNB] 'I can only apologise to our fans and I am sure the players will reiterate that.'[LNB]An earlier version of this story may have suggested Jay Bothroyd and other players breached club rules by drinking 48 hours before a game. We are happy to make clear that they did not break a 48-hour curfew. Portsmouth 0 Norwich 1: Canaries back in the big time after Jackson goalCardiff 0 Middlesbrough 3: Bluebirds slump ends automatic promotion hopeMan City offer Bellamy and Boyata as bait in attempt to land Cahill[LNB] [LNB] Explore more:People: Craig Bellamy, Jay Bothroyd Places: Cardiff, Norwich
