Southampton victory. Solskjaer finds a secret satanic tome while Zaha reveals a bit of the devil.

 How did Cardiff win at Southampton? Many legends will accrue over the years, whether we stay up or go down. Here is the truth as told to me by a secret agent at Crystal Palace. A truth that will chill the hearts of any right minded football supporter. 

Pass it on to your grandchildren only when they are sufficiently mature to understand its enormity.

Midnight on Friday past, Solskjaer is traipsing through the darkened catacombs beneath the Cardiff City stadium. His way lit only by a fragile, flickering candle. He can barely make out cobwebs, blue bare bricks and dust until there, on a shadowy ridge, glowing in the dark is a tome. 

Blowing off the dust the Norwegian sees the inscription: Malky’s Book of Tactics. Feeling the damp chill of dread he opens to find just a single parchment bearing the legend: Two banks of four marshalled in front of Marshall. There are no other words of wisdom.

Solksjaer feels faint. What? Not one goalkeeper and 10 strikers? How can this possibly work?

After 90 breath holding, scary minutes at Southampton he finds it does indeed work. 

Let’s forget the uncharitable words I was to use for the first half: like ponderous, slow, predictable with tactics consisting of passing the ball to the opposition and no pressing what so ever.

Let’s just describe two moments. 

First, Cala picks up a header on the edge of The Saints area, it damned well just will not come down fast enough for a volley, nor will it bounce near his feet for a shot. So he pushes it on, out of the way of the  defenders rushing out to him before blasting it with his left foot across the goal.

It flies in. Like a ground to air missile it rifles the net.

The second moment is Wilfried Zaha battling for the ball. Yes, read that again. Wilfried not slouching, not pouting, not looking a teenager who isn’t allowed to stay up late to play on his playstation. This is the Zaha that Man Utd dream about. Battling for the ball like his life depends on it. What is more staggering is that he wins the fight. He dribbles the ball towards their area, running with the poise and grace of a Brazilian superstar. Where has this Zaha been since January? Moyes might ask the same. More skill, more physical battling, stays on his feet when he could go down for a penalty, before shooting. Ok it is straight at the fortunate keeper, else this would be a contender for goal of the season.

This is the Zaha we have been waiting for. Now we understand.

Hats off too, to Matts Daehli who also shows a bit of toughened grit to go with his prodigious talents.

Finally my last hat off to the Cardiff fans who could be heard throughout the match. Yes, yes, yes they went a little hoarse just after half time but they, like the rest of the world , were waiting for the Southampton victory.

Ok, Ole now we believe, I mean really believe. This is doable. We are still in the ring for the final rounds. Bring ‘em on.