Cardiff City came oh-so-close to going up into the Premier League from which West Ham were relegated last season, so it came as no surprise that this opening day Npower Championship 2011/12 fixture between West Ham and Cardiff was a close encounter.
Cardiff eventually won the match – which kicked off at Upton Park lunchtime on Sunday 7th August 2011 – 1-0 after a powerful injury time winner scored by Kenny Miller squirmed through Robert Green’s hands from just inside the area after the match had been deadlocked until 90+1 minutes.
But, while Cardiff collected three points, Hammers fans went home scratching their heads as to just how their team had failed to get a win after dominating possession, and producing far more goalscoring opportunities than their welsh opponents.
However, sides who fail to take their chances will eventually pay, as was the case here, as Cardiff produced a good burst down the right flank in the first minute of stoppage time before a cut-back was played to Kenny Miller. The Scotsman shot hard and high, straight at the goal, but Robert Green will be disappointed that the ball – to which he got both of his hands – somehow went on into his net, giving Cardiff the win.
| West Ham | 0-1 | Cardiff City |
| (HT 0-0) | ||
| Miller 90+1 |