Cardiff City ran out at Cardiff City Stadium for the first time in pre-season, as Southampton went away with a 4-0 victory on Tuesday evening.
The night saw the Bluebirds’ support return to CCS, with the City faithful making incredible noise for their side.
Mick McCarthy named Mark McGuinness and Ryan Giles in the starting line-up – both making their first CCS appearances in City blue.
The game began with tight play as both defences stood resilient, but Cardiff City came close after 36 minutes. Mark Harris sped along the left flank and passed to Joel Bagan, whose effort from an acute angle was saved by Fraser Forster.
Southampton responded with the encounter’s opening goal, two minutes later. Michael Obafemi found Theo Walcott off the left wing and the forward’s low strike found the net.
City came out determined and nearly found a leveller with five minutes of the opening 45 remaining. 22-year-old Harris played winger Giles down the right and the winger showed pace, before seeing his effort saved by stopper Forster’s foot.
After the interval, the Bluebirds continued to look for an equaliser and came close, 12 minutes in. 21-year-old Giles’ in-swinging cross from the right found forward Harris, whose headed was saved by goalkeeper Forster’s fingertips.
It was the away side who found the next goal though with 66 minutes on the clock. Moussa Djenepo ran into the box off from the left and curled the ball into the top right corner.
The Saints showed their ruthlessness in attack and netted a third goal, seven minutes later. Ché Adams finished from close range after receiving Nathan Tella’s through-ball.
City looked to get a goal back, but Southampton found a fourth after 84 minutes. Forward Adams scored again on the end of a clinical counter attack.
Despite the Bluebirds’ determination to find a goal, the away side left with a four-nil win in Cardiff City’s first pre-season run out at CCS.
FINAL SCORE: CARDIFF CITY 0-4 SOUTHAMPTON
Cardiff City: Phillips, Ng (Murphy 69’), McGuinness, Nelson, Brown (Tomlin 69’), Bagan, Bowen (Vaulks 81’), Pack (Ralls 81’), Trialist (Collins 57’), Harris (T. Davies 69’), Giles (Jones 69’).
Subs not used: Smithies, Ratcliffe, Flint, Connolly, Denham, D'Almeida, Whyte, Zimba.
Southampton: Forster, Valery (Walker-Peters 62’), Stephens, Salisu (Bednarek 62’), Perraud (Djenepo 62’), Romeu, Diallo, Walcott (Tella 62’), Elyounoussi (Redmond 62’), Obafemi (Long 62’), Ings (Adams 62’).
Subs not used: McCarthy, Lewis, Olufunwa, Finnigan.
