Cardiff City have extended their unbeaten record at under-23 development level to five matches with a convincing performance against Coventry City.
Manager Neil Warnock included three over-age players – Matt Connolly, Kadeem Harris and Craig Bryson – in their starting line-up and he watched the match at Cardiff International Sports Campus.
Connolly, Harris and Bryson all proved their fitness and could be included in Warnock’s match day squad for Saturday’s home fixture against Middlesbrough.
Ogo Obi scored after 11 minutes, darting past two defenders before firing low into the corner, and Harris fired the second just before the half hour when he burst clear.
The speedy winger shaped to cross from the left before deceiving goalkeeper Corey Addai with a near post shot which went in under his body.
That ended the scoring in a competitive match with trialist goalkeeper Max Johnstone finishing his debut with a clean sheet.
Johnstone, aged 19, and his older brother Sam have both been under contract at Manchester United this season.
The 24-year-old Sam is now playing for Aston Villa on loan and kept his eighth Championship clean sheet in the 2-0 win against Birmingham City last weekend, while Max has linked up with Cardiff on a trial basis.
He was playing for Fleetwood Town before Manchester United signed the teenager. He has played under-18 and under-23 football for the Reds.
Max made some good saves, particularly during the second half when Coventry had the edge, but struggled with his distribution and communication with defenders.
His cause wasn’t helped by seeing the back four in front of him reshuffled. Connolly and Ciaron Brown were the first half centre-backs. while full-back Cameron Coxe went on after half-time and Paul McKay moved into a central position.
Connolly was the player who went off, while City changed things again when under-18 player Adam Sharif went on for Kadeem.
Sharif took over at full-back from Coxe, who switched from right-back to left midfield.
Former Leicester and Queens Park Rangers winger Danny Rowe was another trialist in Cardiff’s team, while Coventry included senior players Stuart Beavon and Kyle Reid.
Cardiff dominated the first half and created a series of outstanding chances, but failed to make the most of them.
Obi broke clear and slid a pass through for Kadeem Harris, who dinked the ball over goalkeeper Addai only to see his effort clip a post.
Harris smashed another chance wide, while Mark Harris fired against the bar and Obi pounced on the rebound only for Addai to produce a magnificent save.
The Bluebirds were certainly good value for their two-goal half-time lead, but Coventry produced some good passing football after the break and could have forced their way back into the match.
Cardiff, though, held on to their advantage for a fifth successive win.
They now play Bristol City away on Monday, February 19 (1pm) and then entertain Blackburn Rovers at Cardiff International Sports Campus on Thursday, February 22 (Noon kick-off).
The fixture against Rovers is a Premier League Cup group match and admission for spectators is free.
Cardiff City: Max Johnstone, Paul McKay, Rhys Abbruzzese, Jacob Evans, Ciaron Brown (capt), Matthew Connolly Cameron Coxe 46), Ogo Obi, Craig Bryson (Ben Margetson 68), Mark Harris, Daniel Rowe, Kadeem Harris (Adam Sharif 75). Sub not used: Warren Burwood (gk).
Coventry City: Corey Addai, Jak Hickman, Chris Camwell,Callum Maycock, Lewis Green, Jordan Thompson, Jordan Maguire-Drew, Kyle Finn, Stuart Beavon, Billy Steadman, Kyle Reid. Subs: Sion Green, Tim Bilson, Josh Endall, Tyler Johnson, Liam Doyle.
Referee: Mark Whaley.
