CARDIFF CITY 2
Diedhiou 69, Ashford 90+6
SOUTHAMPTON 1
Att: Aribo 12
RUSSELL Martin slammed his sloppy Southampton side after they were the victims of a smash-and-grab raid in south Wales.
The promotion chasers were on course for victory after Joe Aribo’s 12th-minute opener, but squandered numerous chance before Cardiff sub Famara Diedhiou levelled matters after 69 minutes.
And then the Saints were undone by teenager Cian Ashford in the 96th minute of his first full appearance to leave their automatic promotion hopes in tatters.
“It’s unacceptable to lose a game like that. With the amount of chances we had we should have been out of sight by half-time,” raged Martin.
“We started the second half well and had some more chances. We played some amazing football, but it won’t matter because we lost.
“If you’re not going to have the conviction and ruthlessness, be clinical in their box, and then not defend your own properly that’s what happens.
“Today has done us a lot of harm in terms of chasing the automatic spot, but we have to react properly now. We’ve got three games left and we can still get over 90 points.”
Southampton enjoyed a flying start with an early goal.
Prior to that, Stuart Armstrong’s shot across the home goal had hit a post, but there was no stopping Aribo’s shot as he gave the Saints the lead.
Ethan Horvath had managed to keep out Adam Armstrong’s initial effort, but Aribo showed good composure to strike the rebound home.
If it hadn’t have been for the heroics of American goalkeeper Horvath the game could have been out of sight by the break.
Two terrible back passes, firstly from Rubin Colwill and then from Ollie Tanner, put Horvath under huge pressure. He saw Adam Armstrong shoot over the top from the first
