Second-half double inspires Cardiff City to victory over fellow strugglers Derby County

Cardiff City fans haven’t always had an awful lot to shout about when watching their team at the Cardiff City Stadium this season.

Indeed, last week’s scintillating South Wales derby victory was actually their first at home since the start of November.

Addressing that stat would have surely been at the top of Omer Riza’s priorities in recent weeks, as he bids to steer his team away from the relegation mire.

This victory, while a tough watch at times, therefore feels significant, and was delivered in the space of just two sensational second-half minutes.

After a dismal first half, City took the lead shortly after the hour courtesy of Callum Robinson’s 11th goal of the season, before substitute Anwar El Ghazi quickly tucked away a second.

Derby pulled one back through Lars-Jorgesen Salvesen 20 minutes from time, but the hosts held on to claim what could be a huge three points in the context of their season.

The result extends Cardiff’s unbeaten run to eight games in all competitions, and pulls them up to 18th, four points clear of the bottom three, and just one point off Swansea City.

Derby, who have had their own struggles this term, arrived in the capital having mustered just one win on the road all season, but they were arguably the better side during an initially brisk, but ultimately scrappy 45 minutes.

Indeed, Jak Alnwick had to be alert to turn a low drive from Jerry Yates round the post after just two minutes.

Cardiff soon responded, and captain Ralls, one of three changes from the stunning comeback at Millwall on Tuesday, came close to curling home a stunning strike from 30 yards or so. However, he was denied by the fingertips of County goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterstrom.

Yates then had a goal chalked off for offside