FA Cup lessons: What we learned from Wales

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CARDIFF, WALES – JANUARY 28: Claudio Bravo of Manchester City makes an on the line save during The Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round match between Cardiff City and Manchester City on January 28, 2018 in Cardiff, United Kingdom. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images) /

Same Old Issues Raise Their Heads:

It’s a little picky of me to start with this, but it bugged me. The picture above is of course from the keeper, Claudio Bravo, almost spilling a ball into his own net. Had that gone in, it would have seen Cardiff back level at 1-1.

That said, this was one of the few mistakes I remember, in the game, from this particular player. So, although he still has those moments where he seems to lose focus, he has improved.

For me, with this section, it is the missed chances at the other end. I am not sure you can have 77% possession as an away side, win 2-0 and still moan. But we did, and I am.

Seventeen shots and only seven on target is just not good enough. Bernardo Silva and Danilo are two culprits that instantly spring to mind as players who tried to place, rather than lace, the ball.

In the end it didn’t cost us, but that was more with the way Cardiff decided to play. Instead of attacking it seemed their game plan was to foul the opposition as much as the referee allowed, and he allowed a lot.

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