Cardiff City went through to the second round of the FA Cup with a well deserved 2-1 victory over Tranmere Rovers.
Second-half goals from Andy Campbell and James Collins secured the victory after Micky Mellon had given the visitors hope with a first-half goal on the stroke of half-time.
Campbell levelled on the hour with a neat strike from 15 yards out and Collins made it two after he latched on to Andy LeggÂ’s free-kick and poked it home between John AchterbergÂ’s legs from five yards out.
With 18 minutes remaining Achterberg was then sent off for bringing down Campbell on the edge of the box.
Cardiff held on for the victory despite a few nervous moments late on to secure a second round tie at Margate.
“We didn’t play well enough in the first half,” admitted Lennie Lawrence. “But after half time we performed better and I was happy with my players’ response.
“Three things changed the game. The first was the substitution of Simon Haworth. That was a huge boost for us. The second was the finish of Campbell, which was superb, and of course the third was the sending-off.
“Of course he deserved to go and by the letter of the law it was a red card offence.
“We’ll go on to Margate and as long as we are professional we’ll win the game. However, if we don’t then it’s a headline waiting to happen.” And despite his second-half goal Collins was refusing to get carried away. He said: “I thought I was a bit lucky to be honest with you.
“I didn’t make a very good connection, but luckily it went through the keepers legs, but as long as they go in I don’t care how I score them. We’ll take the victory and now it’s Margate.
“It’s going to be a tricky tie, but we can do it.”