U18 Match Preview | Cardiff City vs. Watford

Cardiff City’s U18 side return to the Professional Development League on Saturday (14/1), hosting Watford at Cardiff International Sports Campus – 1pm kick-off.

The young Bluebirds will be looking to return to winning ways in their first game at Leckwith in 2023.

City approach the Watford tie in third position in the PDL South table, sitting on 24 points, just two points behind leaders Charlton Athletic. Steve Jenkins’ men also have two games in hand.

The Bluebirds fell to a 3-1 defeat in their FA Youth Cup Fourth Round match with Oxford United, and also suffered a tough 3-2 loss to Queens Park Rangers last week, despite leading in the game.

Kyle Kenniford netted from the penalty spot while Cody Twose scored on his return to the side in London last week, with both players making it four goals for the season.

Speaking after the Youth Cup exit on Tuesday night, U18 coach Jenkins said: “Despite the result, the exposure for the players, playing Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday is great for their development.”

In an impressive season so far, Tanatswa Nyakuhwa leads the way in the goalscoring tally with seven goals from his 14 appearances.

City’s opponents, Watford, currently sit eighth in the PDL South table. The Hornets have 15 points from their 11 games, with four wins.

Watford also played in the Youth Cup last time out, defeating Everton 3-1.

Adrian Blake has starred for the Hornets this season. The 17-year-old has four goals, including one against Everton, to go with his First Team appearance in the Carabao Cup in August 2022.