Cardiff City (u-18) 0, Coventry City (u-18) 1
It simply wasn’t the Bluebirds’ day in this Professional Under-18 Development League fixture at Cardiff Sports Campus.
They hit the crossbar and a post twice Isaak Davies missed from a penalty and the visiting Sky Blues scored the only goal from a spot-kick of their own.
Harrison Nee was the Coventry player brought down and he jumped up to convert the penalty on seven minutes, his fifth goal of the under-18 season.
The next test for Cardiff is against Queens Park Rangers away next Saturday (Noon), while they entertain Ipswich on Saturday, December 7 (11am).
Coach Matthew Bloxham’s young Bluebirds won 7-3 in their last match, against Colchester United, and were hoping to build on that convincing victory.
https://twitter.com/CF11Academy/status/1198587121700941827?s=20
Cardiff made four changes to the starting line-up from their match against Colchester with Australian goalkeeper Jaimie Cogman, Jac Clay, Taylor Jones and Owen Pritchard all called up.
Isaak Davies fired against a post after three minutes following a flowing move, while Rubin Colwill set Kieron Evans free, but the shot flew wide on 19 minutes.
At the other end Cogman produced an excellent save to deny Nee a second Coventry goal.
Siyabonga Ligendza headed wide just before half-time, while Colwill went close from a free-kick 25 yards out.
With 52 minutes gone Ligendza was fouled inside the penalty area, but Davies failed to convert the resulting spot-kick.
Evans smashed his shot against a post in a frustrating match for Cardiff, while Davies was close to turning Colwill’s delicious cross.
Coventry goalkeeper Cian Tyler denied Evans with a big save on 80 minutes, while Davies was just wide from an acute angle during second half injury time.
It was a battling, spirited performance from the Bluebirds and they did enough to have won, but the Sky Blues clung on to their narrow lead.
Cardiff City; Jamie Cogman, Jack Clay (Tom Chiabi 59), Taylor Jones, Owen Pritchard, Eli King, Harry Pinchard (capt), Aidan MacNamara, Rubin Colwill, Siyabonga Ligendza (James Crole 63) Kieron Evans, Isaak Davies. Subs not used: Tom Chiabi, Brad Stewart (gk), Bright, Ashford
Coventry City: Tyler, Taylor, Forsyth, Costa (Rodber 69), Burroughs, Ward, Purves, Howley, Nee, Harland, Nightingale. Subs not used: White, Fallows, Rodber, Shaw, Ramsey.
Professional Under-23 Development League fixtures
November
Monday 25: Cardiff City v Charlton Athletic
December
Monday 9: Watford v Cardiff City
Monday 16: QPR v Cardiff City
January
Monday 6: Cardiff City v Coventry City
Monday 13: Cardiff City v Colchester United
Monday 20: Coventry City v Cardiff City
Monday 27: Crystal Palace v Cardiff City
February
Monday 3: Millwall v Cardiff City
Monday 10: Cardiff City v Bristol City
Monday 17: Charlton Athletic v Cardiff City
March
Monday 2: Cardiff City v Watford
Monday 9: Cardiff City v Ipswich Town
Monday 16: Cardiff City v QPR
Monday 23: Leeds United v Cardiff City
Monday 30: Cardiff City v Burnley
April
Monday 6: Crewe Alex v Cardiff City
Monday 20: Cardiff City v Hull City
Monday 27: Wigan Athletic v Cardiff City
