First and Last | City’s meetings with the Blues

As the Bluebirds prepare to welcome Birmingham City to Cardiff City Stadium on Saturday, we take a look at our first and most recent meeting with the Blues.

City faced Birmingham City for the first time in the club’s history in September 1920, with a home game at Ninian Park in what went on to become a memorable first Football League season for the Bluebirds.

Under manager Fred Stewart, City made a positive start to the campaign, with wins over Stockport County and a draw with Clapton Orient. However, entering the game, the Bluebirds were defeated 2-0 by Orient in the return fixture just seven days earlier.

In front of 13,000 fans at Ninian Park, City returned to winning ways, securing a fantastic 2-1 victory.

Striker Jimmy Gill, who went on to finish as the club’s top goalscorer that season, netted against the Blues before Arthur Cashmore found City’s second and winning goal not long after.

Stewart’s side would go on to finish second in the Second Division table, despite finishing level on 58 points with champions Birmingham, earning promotion alongside the Blues to the First Division.

It was also a positive campaign for City in the FA Cup, defeating Sunderland, Brighton, Southampton and Chelsea, before being knocked out in a replay of the Semi-Final against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Our most recent meeting with the Blues came back in April, in which City recorded a 1-1 draw at Cardiff City Stadium.

Despite City having the better of the changes early on, the visitors opened the scoring in the 22nd minute, as Jérémie Bela beat the offside trap and finished clinically past Dillion Phillips.

Steve Morison’s men reacted well to falling behind, creating a series of opportunities to equalise. Defender Perry Ng beat his man on the edge of the box and drove at goal, forcing former Bluebirds' goalkeeper Neil Etheridge to save, before loanee Cody Drameh was also denied.

Lee Bowyer’s side went close to doubling their lead early in the second period, as captain Gary Gardner headed powerfully at goal, only to clear the woodwork.

But, City were rewarded for their second-half persistence, as substitute Max Watters beat Etheridge to the ball, winning a penalty for the Bluebirds. Midfielder Will Vaulks stepped up and confidently dispatched the penalty to level the scoring in the 82nd minute. 

Despite applying late pressure, City couldn’t find a winning goal, as the points were shared.