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Wales Online
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Glen Williams

Crucial touchline message saved Cardiff City two points against Blackburn as Mark Hudson praises the 'team behind the team'

Mark Hudson praised his backroom staff for getting a crucial message on to Cardiff City goalkeeper Ryan Allsop, who saved a crucial injury-time penalty to earn the Bluebirds three points against Blackburn Rovers.

Allsop brought down Dominic Hyam in the 92nd minute after Cardiff had gone ahead through Mark Harris. And it looked likely that lead would be squandered from the penalty spot.

But while Allsop lay injured following the challenge with Hyam, goalkeeper coach Graham Stack summoned Mark Harris over to the touchline to relay some crucial information about penalty taker George Hirst. Thankfully for Cardiff, it paid off.

READ MORE: Excellent Cardiff City player ratings as defender a colossus and Ryan Allsop the penalty hero

"Rocky (Allsop) did brilliantly, the homework they do behind the scenes... the information which was brought on by Sparky. He delivered the information and he saved the penalty. But Rocky did try and raise the heart rate a little bit!," Cardiff interim boss Hudson said.

"Graham Stack goes through all different types of penalty takers. They go through it all, how hard they work behind the scenes, the little details, and that's one of them.

"Sparky told Rocky to tell him what he (Hirst) had done previously and Rocky has done his duties. I think we'd have been hard done by not to get three points if I'm honest.

"People work so hard, the analytics team, they work day and night to deliver all the information. It just goes to show the team behind the team."

Mark Harris, the message carrier, said: "Stacky was screaming at me on the side. I was thinking, 'What does he want me for?'

"He said, 'Tell him, if it's Hirst hitting the penalty, go left.' So I told him. He went and he saved it. I'll take the assist!

"As soon as the final whistle went I ran over to him, I was buzzing for him. If they score that it's one point, if he saves that it's three points. That's huge for us."

It was a crucial three points for City and for Hudson, who earned his first win as caretaker manager. At the end of the match, the vocal Canton Stand belted out "Mark Hudson's Barmy Army", which the interim boss was pleased about.

"It means you are doing something right," he said of the chants.

"We didn't start the game very well, took 10 minutes to get going, which you cant do against most teams in this league. But I thought the second half we started well. And the subs we've made showed they are all committed.

"Sparky (Harris), I left him out, I spoke to him before and told him why, because of the shape change, but I told him how important he is and obviously then he comes on and scores a screamer.

"Strikers, if they're not scoring, take it personally. He works so hard, Sparky, like all the lads, to be fair.

"But I spoke to him, it was a hard decision to leave him out because of the shape change. But told him to be ready because we were going to use him. He, and every other play, made an impact."

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