Cardiff City included three trialists in their Professional Development League under-23 match against Bristol City away.
Teenagers Jahvan Miller and Max Johnstone plus Danny Rowe, 20, were all included in the starting line-up.
Powerful striker Miller, 19, was released by Derby last season after scoring twice in eight matches for the Rams’ under-18 team, while Johnstone, also 19, is a goalkeeper still under contract with Manchester United.
His older brother, Sam, is also with Manchester United, although playing on loan for Aston Villa.
Rowe has linked up with the Bluebirds after being released by Queens Park Rangers.
Cardiff did not include any over age players in their squad – they are allowed four – and fought out a close match against the Robins.
Bristol City came out 1-o winners thanks to a goal scored by Cam Allen after 80 minutes. His curling shot from 20 yards found the net.
The young Bluebirds are at home against Blackburn Rovers in a PDL Under-23 Cup group match on Thursday (February 22). The fixture is being played at Cardiff International Sports Campus, opposite the main stadium, with a noon kick-off.
Bristol City: Sesay, Kioso, Turner-Williams, O’Neil (C), H Smith, Baldwin, Edwards, Richards, Garita, Holden, Nurse. Subs: Bakinson, Wollacott, Morton, Akpobire, Allen
Cardiff City: Johnstone, Coxe, Abbruzzese, Rowe, Brown, P McKay, Miller, J Evans, Healey, M Harris, Obi. Subs: Young, Burwood (gk), Humphries, Sharif, Margetson.
