Robinson misses from the spot as Bluebirds slip to defeat

Callum Robinson missed the chance to open his Cardiff City account from the spot as the Bluebirds slipped to a disappointing 1-0 defeat at Huddersfield Town.

An early strike from Jordan Rhodes proved enough to hand the managerless Terriers all three points at a rowdy John Smith's Stadium, although Robinson should have done better with his spot kick midway through the first half, firing straight at goalkeeper Lee Nicholls.

Cardiff improved as the contest wore on, and may well feel they deserved more. But on the whole, they laboured to find the incisiveness needed to breach a well-drilled Huddersfield defence.

It's a result that brings City firmly back down to earth following their terrific win over Middlesbrough in midweek, which was built on a level of intensity we seldom saw during a frustrating afternoon in west Yorkshire.

Mark Harris, one of the more impressive performers from Tuesday's victory, started from the bench as part of two changes, with Jaiden Philogene starting in a front three alongside Callum Robinson and Callum O'Dowda.

Morison also decided to keep the three at the back that had worked so well on Teesside, presumably in the hope of recapturing the stunning first-half showing that provided the bedrock for success in midweek.

Huddersfield's preparations for this game weren't exactly ideal, with the club deciding to dismiss head coach Danny Schofield after a run of one win in nine games, but it didn't take long for Cardiff to realise they were in for a real battle here.

Indeed, it was Huddersfield that started on the front foot, and they took the lead after just nine minutes. A lovely weaving run from Tino Anjorin allowed him to feed Duane Holmes, who then teed up Rhodes on the edge of the box, and he fired home with a low drive that gave Allsop no chance.

Holmes had a go himself just a few minutes later, cutting inside before letting fly just inside the box, but this time Allsop was fully behind it.

The hosts continued to take charge in the early exchanges. Jack Simpson, the embodiment of Cardiff's resilience at the Riverside Stadium, summed up the jitters flying around the City back three by nearly putting the ball in his own net trying to deal with a high ball.

Huddersfield were first to every 50/50, mopped up every loose ball, and showed far more desire during what was admittedly an impressive first-half showing.

That said. Cardiff should have hauled themselves back into the game. A high boot from Anjorin on Andy Rinomhota was deemed dangerous enough to warrant a spot kick by referee Dean Whitestone, although it's probably fair to say the home crowd disagreed.

But it was City ultimately left frustrated, with Robinson hitting a poor penalty straight at Nicholls.

Perry Ng then fizzed a daisy-cutter just wide, and it has to be said Cardiff did improve after that setback, although the hosts were left furious after Ryan Wintle's heavy challenge on Jack Rudoni just after half an hour went unpunished. Replays admittedly suggest the midfielder might well have been lucky to escape a card.

In fairness to Robinson, he responded quite well from his spot kick woes, and his pressure on the Huddersfield defence helped yield a freekick on the edge of the box, which was curled straight into the arms of the keeper by O'Dowda, although Cardiff felt the initial foul was actually inside the box.

Morison, unsurprisingly, wrung the changes at the break, introducing Harris and Romaine Sawyers, but Huddersfield, who introduced former Bluebird Danny Ward to the fray, continued to cause problems.

Indeed, Rhodes would have doubled his tally had his far post header not found the arms of Allsop moment after the restart, while Cedric Kipre needed a magnificent last-ditch tackle to deny Rudoni.

At the other end, Robinson should perhaps have done better to connect with O'Dowda's flashed ball across goal, but Cardiff were gradually starting to gain a foothold in the game.

Cardiff turned to Rubin Colwill 20 minutes from time, and the youngster did give the hosts something to think about down the right hand side, as Morison's side began to dominate possession.

But despite some promising build-up, City just couldn't find the killer pass to open Huddersfield up.

In fact, it could well have been 2-0 at the death, but substitute Sorba Thomas couldn't keep his shot down.

All in all, this felt like a game Cardiff should have taken something from, although frustratingly it feels like it's the same old problems at City rearing their head once again.