Shrewsbury Town 2, Cardiff City 1
Manager Neil Warnock’s Bluebirds suffered their first pre-season defeat against League One Shrewsbury at Montgomery Waters Meadow Stadium in Shropshire.
The experienced Warnock won’t worry at all about losing and will ensure his City squad learn the lessons. They play Livingston at home on Friday.
Shrewsbury are a team fired with enthusiasm after signing 10 new players, while Warnock’s Cardiff have earned four wins and suffered a lone defeat in five fixtures so far.
Cardiff City used 19 players at Shrewsbury, sending on eight substitutes.
Teenage goalkeeper Oliver Byrne, who has impressed for the under-23 in pe-season, and captain Sean Morrison were the two players who sat out this fixture on the bench.
Shrewsbury had already beaten Aston Villa 2-1 plus Wolves 2-0 and the League One team completed a Championship treble with a win against the Bluebirds.
Nathaniel Mendez-Laing scored his third pre-season goal, netting from close range after 44 minutes from a chance set up by Kenneth Zohore.
Danish hit-man Zohore went close several times, while Lee Tomlin fired just over from a free-kick.
Shrewsbury equalised when Shaun Whalley was adjudged to have been fouled by Lee Peltier. Whalley stepped up to score from the penalty after 49 minutes.
Only a minute later Louis Dodds scored from a close range header to put the home team ahead.
Danny Ward’s shot drifted over the bar as Cardiff City tried to find a second goal, but they suffered a first defeat in five pre-season fixtures.
Now they turn to Friday night’s home clash with Scottish club Livingston at Cardiff City Stadium.
Shrewsbury Town (4-4-2) Dean Henderson, Mat Sadler, Junior Brown, James Bolton, Aristote Nsiala, Shaun Whalley, Abu Ogogo (capt), Louis Dodds, Jon Nolan, Alex Rodman, Carlton Morris. Subs: Craig MacGillivray, Arthur Gnohua, Lennell John-Lewis, Bryn Morris, Ebou Adams, Zak Jules, Dan James, Christos Shelis
Cardiff City (4-4-2): Neil Etheridge, Lee Peltier (Joe Bennett 54), Bruno Manga, Sol Bamba, Jazz Richards (Cameron Coxe 84), Greg Halford (Matty Kennedy 59), Aron Gunnarsson, capt (Loic Damour 59), Nathaniel Mendez-Laing (Anthony Pilkington 46), Kadeem Harris (Ibrahim Meite 78), Lee Tomlin (Joe Ralls 59), Kenneth Zohore (Danny Ward 59).
Subs not used: Oliver Byrne (gk), Sean Morrison.
