Cardiff City’s derby hero Ollie Tanner has wowed Aaron Ramsey as team-mate brands him a ‘problem’
The winger was signed from seventh-tier Lewes FC just over a year ago
Saturday represented the peak of a redemption arc for Cardiff City’s Ollie Tanner.
Make no mistake, Cardiff took a big punt on the 21-year-old just over a year ago when Steve Morison signed him from seventh-tier Lewes FC. He had never played anywhere near close to Championship football, but Morison was excited to get his signature down on the dotted line.
He arrived with much fanfare, but the leap from tier five to tier two is vast. After arriving, Cardiff knew they had to iron out a few things in his game and it was decided that half a season in the under-21s and half a season out on loan was the best course of action.
READ MORE: Erol Bulut stunned by deafening Cardiff City fans’ support and praises Ollie Tanner after ‘special’ derby win
In truth, though, it was a stagnant season for him. And a disappointing one, because of the expectation after he had turned down a move to Tottenham Hotspur months before joining the Bluebirds.
Erol Bulut saw something in him during pre-season, though. Tanner couldn’t stop scoring in friendly matches and invariably looked one of the brightest players in a blue shirt in those matches.
So, who does Bulut turn to on derby day, against bitter rivals Swansea, when his side need a goal? That’s right, Tanner. A player who, a fortnight ago, Bulut publicly chopped down to size after his performance against Ipswich Town, leaving the thousands of supporters who were at that game, who believed he was Cardiff’s best attacking outlet, baffled.
But it was meant to be for Tanner. After a string of promising performances, this is the moment he truly announced himself. Forty seconds after his introduction in the derby, he chopped inside and rifled the ball into the bottom corner with laser-like accuracy. The game needed a moment of quality and that young man provided it.
