DAILY MIRROR

FOOTBALL: FORD AND HILL BACK WITH A VENGEANCE

Oxford 2 Cardiff City 3
MIKE FORD and Danny Hill both proved a point to their old club as Cardiff wrecked Oxford's impressive
start to the season for their first Second Division win of the campaign. Skipper Ford was the defensive
linchpin and Hill the midfield tormentor as Frank Burrows's team went for Oxford's throats from the start.
And, after doing their best to throw victory away, the Bluebirds eventually triumphed in dramatic fashion
with a brilliant winner five minutes from time by Kevin Nugent - his second goal of the game.

"That was as well as we have played since I've been at the club," admitted centre-back, Ford, who joined City
from Oxford just over a year ago. But we made it extremely hard for ourselves. We were very good in the first
half and when Oxford came back in the second, that wasn't down to them playing any better, just to us messing
things up."

Ford added: "Victory meant an awful lot to me today. I'd been at the Manor Ground for 10 years and had hoped
for a testimonial there against possibly Middlesbrough or West Ham later this season. I didn't just want to return,
though. I wanted to return as a winner. With this result we probably showed a few people that Cardiff mean
business in this division this season and it sets us on our way nicely."

Hill had a torrid time at Oxford after moving from Tottenham. But he showed the United supporters they never
saw the best of him with some slick touches and deft passes as Cardiff ran the midfield in the first half.

Surinam-born wingback Winston Faerber fired the Welsh club in front with a brilliant 16-yard shot. Nugent had
the home fans reeling before half- time with a second goal after Jason Bowen sprung Oxford's offside trap from
Hill's chip over the defence.

The promoted side then shot themselves in the foot twice to help Oxford draw level. First Jeff Eckhardt needlessly
handled in the box to gift the relegated club a penalty which Matt Murphy converted. Then goalkeeper Jon
Hallworth dropped a cross from Joey Beauchamp to hand Murphy a second goal. Hallworth protested that he had
been fouled and he might even have turned the ball into his net for an own goal.

Yet Cardiff refused to feel sorry for themselves and hit straight back to score a third. Once again it was
man- of-the-match Faerber, a free transfer signing from Den Haag in the summer, who caused the damage. Faerber
advanced down the right and crossed and Nugent volleyed home on the turn from the edge of the area for a classy
winning goal.

City boss Burrows said: "I thought we were awesome in the first half and streets ahead of Oxford. When Oxford
came back to 2-2 in the second half we then showed tremendous character to get a third - and I always knew we
would. The goal that won the game from Nugent would win any game - it was that good."

Oxford boss Malcolm Shotton blasted his players for their dozy approach and ordered them in for extra training
yesterday morning. "Right down the squad we were terrible," fumed Shotton. "The attitude stank and the performance
stank. In the first half we were a disgrace. It seemed the senior players had other things on their mind and suddenly
thought they were a good side after winning away at Stoke."

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