Blues made six changes from Saturday but Cardiff made ten, so no excuses there as we were generally outplayed and the best team on the day went through. It did show how thin we are on the ground and playing both the two young full-backs proved the main cause of our defeat as they gave Cardiff’s wide players far too much room.

We missed Neil Ruddy’s talking and organising at the back while in front of our back four, Ivan Sunjic and Juninho Bacuna were a bit lightweight. Why Bacuna didn’t slot in as an emergency right back is anybody’s guess.

Further forward, the Juke (who deserved booking but never sending off for his foul) and Jay S never really gelled and much as I like Jordan James he is no natural wide player. At least George Hall proved a bright spark before the injury curse stuck again.

The subs were a mixed bag with Koji Miyoshi making a big difference although the same can’t be said for the ponderous movement at the back and the front respectively of Marc Roberts and Sam Cosgrove, who looked more like Donkey Derby contestants than footballers.