Benin international striker Frederic Gounongbe, who hasn’t played first team football for almost a year, started for Cardiff City in their 2-0 Premier Development League win against Watford.
Callum Paterson, Greg Halford and Anthony Pilkington were also in the Bluebirds’ team at Cardiff City Stadium.
Forgotten striker Gounongbe produced some good touches and was strong in the air during the first half before going off, while Paterson is in contention to play in Saturday’s Championship home match against Millwall.
The Scot is a big, strong, quick and athletic full-back who gets forward at every opportunity. Paterson completed 90 minutes and gave watching manager Neil Warnock plenty to think about ahead of the clash with Millwall.
Goalkeeper George Ratcliffe took over from Oliver Byrne at half-time and saved a second half penalty with a big save down to his right. His kicking of the dead ball was also first class.
Defenders Rhys Abbruzzese, Jamie Veale and Tyrone Duffus all played a big part in keeping a lively Watford attack out, while Connor Young and Cameron Coxe both put in solid performances.
Young, though, was sent off just before the hour for a second bookable offence.
Mark Harris, nicknamed Sparky by his club-mates, scored both City goals and was man of the match, while James Waite was bright and technically good during his second half appearance.
Cardiff coaches Jarred Harvey and Andy Legg named a strong side to face Watford and the first chance went to the home team after Goungongbe held the ball up inside his own half before releasing Cameron Coxe on the right.
Coxe exquisitely set up Harris from 10 yards out, but the forward saw his shot saved by goalkeeper Sam Howes.
Harris scored his first goal when he took possession in midfield and dribbled into the penalty area before firing low across goal to make it 1-0 from 15 yards.
Paterson might have doubled the lead, but his header from six yards went straight into the hands of the keeper after 15 minutes.
The Bluebirds impressed, but Watford almost equalised on a counter-attack when Michael Folivi found space eight yards out, but the striker saw his low effort saved by Oliver Byrne’s left foot.
The home side’s dominance continued in the second half when Paterson’s mazy run through midfield set up Harris, but he volleyed narrowly wide after 51 minutes.
Despite being reduced to 10 men with Young’s dismissal for two bookable offences, City added to their lead.
Pilkington’s shot was parried by Howes and Welsh youth international Harris was in the right position to tap in his second of the match from six yards just after the hour.
In the final 20 minutes the visitors were awarded a penalty when substitute Waite fouled Brice Dja DjeDje. The Watford man took the spot-kick himself and Ratcliffe saved.
City’s defence remained strong in the latter stages, keeping out increasingly desperate Watford attempts to score.
Cardiff City: Byrne (Ratcliffe 46), Paterson, Abbruzzese, Veale, Duffus, Young, Coxe, Halford, Gounongbe (Waite 46), Pilkington, Harris. Subs not used: Bodenham, Proctor.
Watford: Howes, Eleftheriou, Mason, Rowan, Ryan, Mukena, Stewart, Dja DjeDje, Folivi, Perreira, Williams. Subs not used: Stevens, Hoskins, Sesay, Charles, Bradbury.
