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Live Commentary: Cardiff City 0-1 Tottenham Hotspur - as it happened

Read how Cardiff City's unbeaten home run came to an end at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur, who won the Premier League game in the 93rd minute.
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Tottenham Hotspur travelled to Cardiff City looking to end the Welsh side's unbeaten home record at the start of their first Premier League season.

After picking up four points from Man City and Everton, Cardiff couldn't deny Spurs as Paulinho flicked home a lovely goal in stoppage time after numerous saves from David Marshall throughout the match.

Read how an action-packed game at the Cardiff City Stadium unfolded in our minute-by-minute updates below.


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Afternoon all! This is one of three games in the Premier League this afternoon and it should be a cracker as Cardiff defend their unbeaten home record against Andre Villas-Boas's new-look Spurs.

Team news just coming through from the Cardiff City Stadium...

CARDIFF XI: Marshall; Theophile-Catherine, Caulker, Turner, Taylor; Whittingham, Medel, Kim, Gunnarsson, Bellamy; Campbell

The Spurs XI is yet to reach us so let's take a closer look at that Cardiff side. It's two changes from Mackay as David Marshall returns in goal and Craig Bellamy is chosen ahead of Don Cowie.

SPURS XI: Lloris; Walker, Dawson, Vertonghen, Naughton; Dembele, Paulinho; Townsend, Eriksen, Sigurdsson; Soldado

It's one change for Spurs from last week's win over Norwich as Kyle Naughton is preferred to Danny Rose at left-back.

SUBS! And the two benches today:

Cardiff: Lewis, Hudson, Odemwingie, Mutch, Cowie, Mason, Maynard
Spurs: Friedel, Chiriches, Fryers, Holtby, Lamela, Sandro, Kane

So Spurs' big summer signing Erik Lamela still hasn't started a Premier League game as Andros Townsend, Gylfi Sigurdsson and Christian Eriksen keep their places behind Roberto Soldado.

REFEREE WATCH: The man in charge today is Mark Clattenburg, who on Tuesday oversaw Real Madrid's 6-1 thrashing of Galatasaray in the Champions League.

The full-time whistles have just gone in the two 1.30 kickoffs at the Emirates and Selhurst Park. Arsenal beat Stoke 3-1, with three assists from Mesut Ozil, while Swansea teach Palace a lesson by winning 2-0 to cap a memorable week for Michael Laudrup's Swans.

There's also another Premier League match kicking off at 4pm as you may well know. It's the Manchester derby and I recommend that you open Jack Prescott's minute-by-minute coverage of that one by opening this link in a new tab.

Last time these two sides met was in the FA Cup in January 2007 when Cardiff held Spurs to a goalless draw at home but were then trounced 4-0 in the replay at White Hart Lane.

The stats do favour Cardiff this afternoon as they're unbeaten at home this term and now face a Spurs side who haven't won in the Welsh capital for 56 years!

Here's the new third kit that Spurs will be sporting today:

Click here to see the latest Premier League table after today's earlier results. Arsenal are now top but could be ousted if Spurs win by three goals or more.



PREDICTION TIME! I think that many will fancy a draw today but I just think that Cardiff's strong run at home might come to an end so am siding with Spurs. 2-1 to the visitors, with Paulinho to get his first goal for the North London side.

The keys to this match today will be how Cardiff defend against the creativity of Eriksen in particular. They can't give any easy chances to Soldado, who is notoriously efficient in front of goal. When going forward, Malky Mackay's side could be most dangerous from set pieces with the excellent left foot of Peter Whittingham.

Here come the two sides at the Cardiff City Stadium. Kickoff is moments away. I'll also keep you updated with any goals or incidents in the Manchester derby.

KICKOFF! We're underway in the Welsh capital.

Good start from the hosts as energetic and peculiarly-named right-back Theophile-Catherine beats Vertonghen to a ball on the wing but can't pick out a fellow red shirt in the area.

First attack from Spurs sees Eriksen almost pick out Sigurdsson at the back stick. Cardiff half-clear it to Naughton who goes for the spectacular but shoots over the bar.

INCREDIBLE GOALKEEPING! Naughton underhits a backpass and Campbell is in on goal with just Lloris to beat. The French international keeps his eye on the ball as the Cardiff striker looks to go past him and nips it off his toes. Replays show that he may have handled outside the area but it was very close.

CHANCE! Now it's Spurs's turn to work the keeper as Townsend gets in down the right and squares for Soldado who shoots low but straight at Marshall. The Cardiff keeper's save is unconvincing but gets the job done.

Naughton is getting plenty of space down the left and this time whips over a good cross that Sigurdsson bravely flicks at goal, with Marshall getting down low to his left to save.

GREAT TACKLE! Walker bursts forward and is about to pull the trigger inside the area when Turner slides in to dispossess the England right-back.

SHOT! Eriksen made a big impression last week against Norwich and has just gone close with a long-ranger that bounced awkwardly in front of Marshall, who tipped it wide.

UPDATE: City break the deadlock in the Manchester derby as Sergio Aguero expertly volleys home.

A glimpse of an opening for Cardiff as Campbell beats Vertonghen to the ball before setting back for Bellamy. The journeyman decided not to shoot and eventually the chance fizzled out.

CHANCES! Spurs come close twice as Soldado sets himself up brilliantly but has his shot well blocked. The ball falls to Eriksen who strikes it sweetly with his left but has to watch the ball dribble agonisingly wide after Marshall's parry.

STRONG HANDS! All Spurs at the moment as Sigurdsson isn't closed down so goes for goal. It's a powerful hit by the Icelandic international but again too close to Marshall who is called upon once more.

It appears that Spurs right-back Walker was booked for a challenge on Whittingham in the seventh minute. I think we missed it because we were trying to work out if Lloris had handled the ball outside the box when nicking the ball off Campbell.

Medel does what he's famous for by tenaciously winning the ball back to perk up the Cardiff crowd. Campbell really should have taken that early chance and since it's been predominantly Spurs doing the attacking.

We have a break in play as Kim stays down injured with what looks like a thigh problem. Looking at the stats, they back up that it's been all Spurs, who have had 12 shots to Cardiff's one. Possession-wise, the visitors have had 64% of the ball.

This time it's Townsend who stings the palms of Marshall with a shot from outside the box. It's all well and good Spurs having all this possession but they keep shooting straight at the Scottish keeper.



Full-blooded tackle from Campbell on Dawson that the Cardiff man is lucky to escape a booking for.

Strange moment from Lloris as he needlessly gives away a corner for failing to keep the ball in play.

DISALLOWED GOAL! Cardiff think they've taken the lead as Turner climbs highest at the back post to head home from a yard or two. Clattenburg had already blown for a foul which I'm struggling to see.

THREE minutes of time added on at the end of the first half.

HALF-TIME: CARDIFF 0-0 SPURS

A goalless first half then but plenty to talk about. Cardiff started well but Spurs then dominated the middle half an hour before an encouraging end to the half by the hosts.

UPDATE: Up in Manchester it's now 2-0 to City thanks to Yaya Toure's goal just before the break. Click here to read our first-half summary from the Etihad.

IMAGE! Here's a snap of that excellent tackle from Turner that denied Walker the chance to shoot in the 12th minute:

Tottenham's Kyle Walker is tackled by Cardiff's Ben Turner during their Premier League match on September 22, 2013© Getty Images

To sum up the first period: Cardiff should have scored after five minutes when Campbell intercepted Naughton's backpass but tried to round Lloris who took the ball away from the Cardiff striker. Spurs then went on a shooting spree but kept either firing wide or hitting it straight at Marshall. At the end of the half the hosts improved and had the ball in the net when Turner headed home. Clattenburg saw an infringement though and blew for a free kick.

IN OR OUT? Here's a picture of the French keeper taking the ball from Campbell. Is he outside the area? If he was then he should have been sent off for handling and denying a a clear goalscoring opportunity.


We're back underway in the second half and there's an early opportunity for the hosts as Bellamy gets in behind down the right. He looks for Campbell in the middle but Lloris comes out to claim.

YELLOW! Townsend is booked for a foul on Kim, who was looking to start a Cardiff counter.

OFF THE BAR THEN SAVED! Oh my goodness, Spurs will not come any closer than this. Sigurdsson's dipping drive leaves Marshall stranded and smacks the bar. It falls to Soldado who reacts remarkably quickly to fire at goal, with Marshall somehow keeping it out. Fantastic goalkeeping.

Over at the Etihad it's now FOUR-nil to Manchester City against neighbours United.

Another incredible save from Marshall to deny Soldado but this time it doesn't matter as the flag was up for offside. Some performance from the Cardiff stopper today.

DENIED AGAIN! Marshall's having one of those games where it just doesn't look like he'll be beaten. This time it's Paulinho who tests the Scot with a smart near-post flick that is turned around the post.

CHANCE! Wonderful opportunity for Cardiff as Whittingham drills across the box but it somehow misses everyone and goes out for a goal kick. No idea how there hasn't been a goal in this game yet.

The camera pans to Peter Odemwingie receiving instructions from a Cardiff coach. Looks like the Nigerian might be making his first Cardiff appearance shortly.

YELLOW! A clear booking for Cardiff's Turner as he scythes down Townsend who was about to charge into the area.

Townsend himself takes the resulting free kick but it's a shoddy effort that hits the bottom of the wall.

CARDIFF SUB: Mackay makes the change and it's a straight swap up front with Campbell coming off for Odemwingie.

Swift interplay from Spurs on the edge of the box that sees Naughton come onto the ball with space to shoot. However, he's clearly very right-footed and has to check back before firing over.

Into the final quarter of the game we go as Cardiff spurn a shooting opportunity, with Gunnarsson volleying over after some good hold-up play from Odemwingie.

CURLED WIDE! Naughton has looked vulnerable at left-back today and almost gifts Cardiff a goal. His clearance is blocked and releases Odemwingie who shifts the ball onto his left foot before curling wide of the far post.

YELLOW! Dawson is booked for a rash challenge on Kim, whose quick feet were too much for the Spurs centre-back.

SPURS SUB: Lamela is given 20 minutes to change this game as he comes on for Sigurdsson, who was so unlucky not to score when his swerving effort slapped the bar.

Dembele feeds Lamela on the left of the area and with the right ball Soldado would have a tap-in at the back post, but the Argentine gets his cross wrong.

CARDIFF SUB: Mackay brings on Don Cowie in place of Craig Bellamy. About 15 minutes to go here, will we see a winner?

Looking at the Spurs bench there's no Jermain Defoe or Emmanuel Adebayor to bring on up front. Perhaps youngster Harry Kane will be given an opportunity.

CHANCE! Best chance of the game for Cardiff as Odemwingie sidesteps past Vertonghen before cutting back for Gunnarsson, who leans back and spoons over the bar from 10 yards.

SPURS SUB: Indeed it is Kane who is brought on for the visitors, with Townsend the man making way.

Cardiff tweet: "Today's attendance is announced as 27,815 another record attendance for Cardiff City Stadium. Thank you for your continued support."

Clear handball from Taylor denies Lamela sending Walker free down the right. Not long left now for Spurs to make their dominance count.

Cardiff are sitting deeper and deeper here, inviting pressure from Spurs. At the moment, they're holding on but should try and keep the ball for longer.

SPURS SUB: Last throw of the dice from AVB as he brings on Holtby for Eriksen.

FOUR minutes of time added on. Will we see a winner?

SAVE! Marshall again on hand to keep out Spurs as Paulinho is played in by Holtby but fails to beat the Cardiff stopper, who is the clear man of the match.

GOAL! CARDIFF 0-1 SPURS (PAULINHO)

Cardiff are finally beaten and it's a first Premier League goal for Paulinho and a beauty at that. Lamela is played in down the right and his low cross is flicked home delightfully by the Brazilian. Cardiff hearts broken.

FULL TIME: CARDIFF 0-1 SPURS

Spurs win it at the death thanks to Paulinho's deft flick. AVB's side go joint-top with North London rivals Arsenal on 12 points while Cardiff remain just above the drop zone on five points.

Click here for the latest table after the fifth round of fixtures.

In the end, three points was what Spurs deserved for peppering the Cardiff goal. They had 29 shots to the hosts' five, getting 12 on target as Cardiff failed to test Lloris once.

Marshall was still man of the match but Paulinho stood out for the visitors and deserved his goal. If you scroll towards the bottom of this commentary you'll notice that I predicted a Spurs win and Paulinho to score!

Anyway, that's all we've got time for here on SM. Thanks for joining us. Be sure to stick around on site throughout the evening for analysis and reaction as well as more football from across Europe.

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Cardiff manager Malkay Mackay prior to kick-off in the match against Hull on September 14, 2013
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