Pompey made two changes from the match against Bristol City. Erik Huseklepp and Joel Ward came in to the starting line-up in place of Kanu and Aaron Mokoena who both dropped to the substitutes' bench.
There was no place on the bench for Hermann Hreidarrson, Ryan Willians or new Hungarian striker Marko Futacs who signed on Friday. However, both Williams and Futacs took the opportunity to warm-up prior to kick-off.
After last season, there is some irony to Pompey having too many players for the five available places on the substitutes' bench.
There was a steady westerly breeze blowing across Fratton Park that picked up as the match progressed making playing conditions tricky at times as the ball swirled around. The new flag-set perched on top of the North Stand stood proud and stiff for much of the game.
Cardiff took the lead in the 71st minute through left back Andrew Taylor with a good finish in front of the travelling fans on the Milton End.
The goal had come against the run of second half play as Pompey had exerted pressure on their opponents following a disappointing first half display.
Pompey had enough chances, especially in the second half, to secure victory. On two occasions the ball was cleared off the Cardiff City goal line in front of the Fratton End and Greg Halford smashed a long distance free kick against the upright.
Earlier in the match Joel Ward had hit the cross-bar with a right-sided cross that swirled in the wind and was mis-judged by the goalkeeper. Hayden Mullins had a long distance effort that was blasted well over the crossbar a la Quashie.
Cardiff had their chances too with the wily and experienced internationals Robert Earnshaw and Kenny Miller up front.
Just before they scored the opening goal the play opened up, coinciding with the arrival of Frenchman Rudy Gestede. As Pompey plied away to make openings they were undone by a swift Cardiff move that found space in the defence and Taylor free to shoot home from the left hand edge of the penalty box.
There were also appeals from the Welsh team for a penalty following a clumsy challenge by Mullins on the back of Earnshaw, the referee Mr Woolmer waved the appeals away and the linesman didn't flag, much to the disgust of the Cardiff player and his manager Malky Mackay.
Kanu's headed goal came from a cross by Tal Ben Haim who pinged a few decent passes around during the game and was probably the most accurate and effective Pompey player to do that.
In the build-up to the goal Joel Ward, who didn't have his best game at right back, found a surge of energy to drive forward and win a corner. It was one of those 'little things' that are sometimes overlooked in the wider context of a game but which end up having a positive impact.
It's another point in the bag against a team that was clearly not as strong as last season but a point nonetheless.
There may be disquiet amongst some Pompey fans about the style of football but it's early days. It's a results business and ultimately that's how the history books judge clubs and managers.
Let's talk tactics
Much of the post-match discussion amongst Pompey fans was focussed on the tactics deployed by Steve Cotterill for this match. Much of the play was direct and not particularly subtle. Call it 'long-ball', call it 'hoofing', call it 'Cotterball', call it what you want. It didn't make the match a very enjoyable viewing experience and was such a stark contrast to the previous home game against Reading.
Pompey are no Stoke City and do not have a complete set of weapons to deploy long-ball tactics, Greg Halford's long throw-ins aside. The players don't look comfortable or effective playing with this style of play. The fans got irritated as each move broke down.
Dave Kitson is tall and a potential target man. However, he drifts away from the centre forward position too often out to the flanks.
Neither Luke Varney or Erik Huseklepp are target men and both struggled with the tactics on this occasion and were withdrawn from the action in the second half.
The Norwegian had run himself in to the ground in the first half trying to get on to the end of high, long balls. Welcome to English football Erik! Varney was clearly surprised and disappointed to be taken off, he's more effective running the channels with the ball on the ground not looking over his shoulder like a wide receiver in American Football.
The other key missing ingredient is a player who can deliver accurate long balls from the midfield - not from the back. Neither Norris or Mullins are suited to that, they are tenacious battlers who like to dominate a midfield battle on the ground. In the first half they were effectively by-passed again and again.
As a 'one-off' maybe this was the right approach for this match, afterall Pompey had enough chances to win. If it's to be the long-term approach then so be it. It will be interesting to see how it pans out over the course of the season especially if results pick up. If that happens it will be interesting to see the Pompey fans' reactions.
It's a good old fashioned style over substance debate.
Plenty of positive signs
This was the third consecutive game that has garnered points, each game being more successful than in the corresponding fixtures last season.
Last year: Pompey drew at home to Reading, this year they won; they lost away to Bristol City, this year they drew; and they lost at home to Cardiff City, drawing this time. The result against Middlesbrough was the same. That puts Pompey five points to the good compared to last season with just the disappointment of the defeat to Brighton blighting the record books to date.
First Half Action
Second Half Action
The next four pictures show how a lot of the action panned out in this game, note how the players are all looking skywards for the ball which is nowhere to be seen. You can blame the photographer, a description used loosely in this context, for that! LOL!
Other Pictures
Portsmouth versus Cardiff City: Jamie Ashdown, Joel Ward, Greg Halford, Jason Pearce, Tal Ben Haim, Liam Lawrence, Hayden Mullins, David Norris, Luke Varney, Dave Kitson, Erik Huseklepp. Substitutes: Stephen Henderson, Ricardo Rocha, Aaron Mokoena, Benjani and Kanu
Attendance: 14,354, there was a good following from South Wales, although the Milton End wasn't totally full.
MOTM: the official award went to Hayden Mullins
Next up for Pompey: a friendly in Spain again Real Bettis on Wednesday 31st August. La Liga players have been on strike and this weekend is the first of competitive football, it's also an international break. Oh, and there's the small matter of the Transfer Window closing too.
BlueThruAndThru
