Carling Cup round-up: Kenny Miller on target for Cardiff

CARDIFF heaped further pressure on Blackburn manager Steve Kean as goals from Kenny Miller and Anthony Gerrard put the Welsh club into the last four of the Carling Cup for the first time since 1966.

Scotland striker Miller opened the scoring in the 19th minute with a low left-footed finish and Gerrard sealed the win by nodding home five minutes after the break after Blackburn keeper Mark Bunn had failed to deal with a corner.

At the other end, former Dundee United striker David Goodwillie had his headed effort well saved by Cardiff keeper Tom Heaton and Scott Dann also nodded wide.

But, in truth, Rovers were well beaten and the visiting support made clear their dissatisfaction with repeated chants of “Kean out”.

The evening had begun with Cardiff City Stadium uniting in a round of applause and a minute’s silence in memory of Wales manager Gary Speed, with the home support regularly breaking into chants of “There’s only one Gary Speed” throughout the contest.

Cardiff were joined in the last four by Manchester City after a late goal from substitute Sergio Aguero earned a 1-0 win over Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.

Both sets of supporters conducted a moving one minute’s applause before kick-off in memory of Speed.

The returning Samir Nasri, by contrast, was subjected to jeers from the opening exchanges as he made his first return to his old club after the French midfielder made an acrimonious summer transfer to big-spending City.