For a while, this felt a little last season.
For some time, it felt that this was the game where Cardiff City’s injury problems would finally take its toll.
But then came the reminder that the Bluebirds aren’t in the business of taking a backward step, let alone winding back the clock as Sol Bamba’s goal pushed Cardiff even further forward into dreamland.
Last year, as Neil Warnock engineered the improvements in this side, there were countless games where they were just one or two players short from making the difference.
It led the veteran manager to remark how much he was looking forward to the chance to strengthen in the summer to get a bit of payback on the defeats and the frustration of his first term in charge.
He’s done that and then some already this year, even with losing a string of key men through injuries.
There were nine players missing here and a few on the bench you suspect weren’t really fit at all. Cardiff had no recognisable striker on the pitch to begin with.
And as they toiled against the Tigers to start with, you wondered if it was just one game too many to cope with so many crocked. It would have been understandable.
By the final whistle you were instead wondering what is going to stop Warnock’s side as they head towards 2018 with the kind of unshakable belief that can lead to a very happy new year.
Granted, as the Christmas songs played at Cardiff City Stadium, you’d suspect there’ll be a few reinforcements on Warnock’s list left under the chimney; the telling off at Reading aside, he’s definitely been good enough to be on the nice list, after all.
Cardiff’s support are are certainly in the festive spirit, counting down the clock to another three points – that keeps the gap to leaders Wolves to four – by belting out Wham’s Last Christmas. This year, apparently, they’re giving their heart to Sol Bamba.
Certainly, once the centre-back buried his 58 minute header to break the deadlock, there was no danger of the Bluebirds giving anything away. They are yet to drop any points from a winning position this season.
The issue here was not that resilience, but how they would find themselves ahead with those aforementioned players missing. Most pertinently, with Kenneth Zohore still out, Danny Ward having gone under the knife and Omar Bogle not fit enough to start, there was not a frontman to turn to with Anthony Pilkington deputising. The fact he has not played a league minute since the final game of last season tells a story of the current situation.
But, as has happened, Cardiff have a character that has seen players step up and deliver. Pilkington struggled but still played his part, flicking on the ball for Bamba to benefit at the back post.
So too did Lee Tomlin again underline his value and remind that he could yet have a huge part to play in being the difference going into the new year. His inability to match midfield colleagues for work-rate and distance covered is acknowledged, but as they looked for a way to win this game, Tomlin was more often than not the spark. Though he missed some chances, the former Bristol City man again played his way into the affection of the Cardiff support.
Still, it took a time for Tomlin to come into things. Without a natural striker, there was no-one to show for the midfielders looking to move the ball up to test the Tigers.
As Pilkington looked to get behind the centre-backs – and not really having the pace to do so – there was no frontline fulcrum to play off.
And with the greater possession unable to lead to greater pressure, so Hull had their chances with Cardiff a little sloppy at the back.
With skipper Sean Morrison missing to provide that little bit of organisational order, the odd bit of rashness from Bamba or Bruno Manga didn’t have its usual cover.
It almost proved significant 24 minutes in when Neil Etheridge made a meal of a Kamil Grosicki free-kick swung in and Michael Hector squeezed a shot wide amid the confusion.
And, with Manga failing to adequately clear, the ball was eventually worked back into danger with Bamba caught between a retreat and a challenge that allowed a fine first touch from Nouha Dicko to give him a shooting chance. Hull’s lone striker was unfortunate to see his effort graze the near post from the tightest of angles.
But, while Hull’s own injury problems (missing a total of 11 players for this trip) gave them something of a patched up feel, Cardiff weren’t missing all of their old mojo and certainly none of their fighting spirit.
And as things wore on, so Tomlin was able to find the pockets of space where he is such a threat. With Joe Ralls – described this season as a Rolls Royce by Warnock – driving Cardiff on from deep in midfield, so the Bluebirds began to build some momentum.
He started one move from deep that brought Tomlin into play, exchanging passes with Hoilett before testing former loan man Allan McGregor for the first time on 33 minutes.
McGregor was beaten soon after, Tomlin again pulling the strings only for Joe Bennett to inch past the offside line when he connected with the midfielder’s pass and see the goal disallowed.
But Tomlin will have spent the break kicking himself that when, on 39 minutes, the ball fell beautifully for him in the box and he shaped to hit home a volley akin to his Madejski heroics. Back then it smashed in off the bar; here it just sailed over it.
Still, there was no doubt he was having an influence and papering the cracks left by the crocks and, on 58 minutes, it provided the breakthrough; Tomlin’s cross was flicked on by Pilkington and, at the back post, Bamba buried his header.
Hull could complain of a potential offside – and replays did suggest it was a close one – but such are the fine lines. Cardiff, despite the challenges, are doing what it takes to fall the right side of them.
It’s something they couldn’t manage many times last year. This feels all very different.
Cardiff City: Etheridge; Peltier(Paterson 82), Manga, Bamba(Capt), Bennett; Ralls, Damour; Mendez-Laing, Tomlin(Halford 83), Hoilett; Pilkington(Bogle 68).
Subs Not Used: Murphy(gk), Feeney, Connolly, Healey.
Hull City: McGregor; Tomori, Dawson(Capt), Mazuch, Aina; Hector, Larsson; Toral(Bowen 64), Irvine, Grosicki; Dicko(Diomande 67).
Subs Not Used: Marshall(gk), Luer, Clark, Olley, Clackstone.
SCORERS -
Cardiff City: Bamba 58
YELLOW CARDS -
Cardiff City: Bamba 51
Referee: Scott Duncan (Northumberland)
Attendance: 18,049
