Pre-Season Match Preview | Cardiff City vs. Cambridge United
Cardiff City vs Cambridge United - Saturday, July 17th, 2021 @ Cardiff International Sports Campus, 1pm KO
MATCH FORMAT
This fixture will be split into two one hour matches.
1pm: 2 x 30 mins
2:30pm: 2 x 30 mins
WATCH THE GAME LIVE
This match is being played behind closed doors, but supporters can watch Mick McCarthy’s side in action on Cardiff City TV for just £3!
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE A MATCH PASS
International Early-Bird Subscribers and International Monthly Subscribers will get friendly matches included within their package. Click here to purchase one of these packages if you're outside the UK & Ireland. Audio Subscribers will also get audio commentary for this fixture live.
*You'll need to register for a Bluebirds Club Account to purchase match streams. Click here to register.*
ALEX'S THOUGHTS
Cardiff City goalkeeper Alex Smithies spoke to Cardiff City TV ahead of our pre-season fixture with Cambridge United.
“Pre-season is going really well," said Alex. "The boys have been working really hard. Obviously, it’s a really hot day today and we’ve been out on the grass for a good few hours.
“The lads have been putting the effort in. We're all just looking forward to getting into the games now. We've had two or three weeks training and a little run out at the weekend.
"Now we want to build-up the minutes in games and to get back to real competitive matches.
"We're feeling good as well. Everyone is looking strong on the training pitch and it is time to challenge ourselves against real opposition."
OUR OPPONENTS
League One Cambridge United visit South Wales this weekend. After seven seasons in League Two, United won promotion last term, finishing second under the leadership of Mark Bonner.
Although he shares a name with a former Bluebirds midfielder, the Cambridge boss didn't play professionally and has forged his own unique path in the game. Bonner has been with the Club since 2011, previously working a variety of roles within the Academy. He became first team coach in January 2018.
By January 2020 - he was caretaker manager, taking over from Colin Calderwood. Mark oversaw seven fixtures during his temporary spell in charge, before the league season was cut short due to COVID-19. His only full year in charge of the Club so far was the successful campaign last term. Bonner committed his future to United earlier this summer, signing a three-year contract.
The U's have moved quickly to strengthen their newly promoted side, signing six players permanently and one loanee since the window reopened. Sadly, star man last season Paul Mullin refused a new contract, and is now a free agent. The 26-year-old striker scored 32 goals in League Two last term. United will be hoping new addition Sam Smith, a forward from Reading, will help fill that spot.
Wingers Jack Lankester, James Brophy and Shilow Tracey have signed from Ipswich Town, Leyton Orient and Tottenham Hotspur respectively while central defender Lloyd Jones (Northampton Town) & right-back George Williams (Bristol Rovers) also made the move to the Abbey Stadium full-time. Their most recent confirmed signing saw central midfielder Jensen Weir agree a year-long loan from Brighton & Hove Albion.
Wes Hoolahan will be a familiar face to Bluebirds supporters. The former Republic of Ireland international spent ten years with Norwich City between June 2008 - September 2018, facing off against City on a number of occasions. 39-year-old Hoolahan rolled back the years last campaign for the U's, playing a key part in their promotion and earning a spot in the League Two Team of the Season.
