Cardiff vs Coventry clash halted as match tannoy makes bizarre fan request

01/01/2025 10:38 AM

Will a spare fourth official please stand up?

Those may not have been the exact words of the announcement over the tannoy, but Cardiff City had to put out a call for a replacement during their clash against Coventry City after just 17 minutes.

Referee Geoff Eltringham began the match with the whistle in hand while James Durkin took up fourth official duties.

However, Durkin was forced to take over when Eltringham pulled up lame.

With Durkin now in the middle, there was no-one left to act as fourth official.

As a result, an announcement was made at the Cardiff City Stadium for a volunteer from the crowd.

A post from Cardiff’s X account said: “A call has also gone out at CCS for a qualified fourth official to assist our new ref.

“You don’t see this everyday.”

Coventry boss Frank Lampard will have hoped to use the break in action to help his team regain their composure as they fell behind after just six minutes.

Cardiff’s Callum O’Dowda floated in a deep cross from the left flank and it found the head of Cian Ashford, who had made a late run into the box.

Ashford’s header sailed into the direction of Robertson at the near post and he made no mistake from close range as he smashed a volley home.

It was the Australian’s third league goal of the campaign and coincidentally his first since he scored against Coventry on November 30, with the clash ending in a 2-2 draw.

Although Lampard’s talk during the break in the first half may not have immediately resulted in an equaliser, his half-time chat certainly worked.

The Sky Blues hit back at the start of the second half thanks to Tatsuhiro Sakamoto.

Coventry striker Ellis Simms had barged his way into Cardiff’s penalty area but had his shot deflected, only for it to land kindly in the path of Sakamoto.

More to follow…