U23 Match Preview: Cardiff City vs. Birmingham City
The young Bluebirds host Blues at Cardiff International Sports Campus on Monday afternoon - kick-off at 1pm.
Entry for this fixture is free for all, and will be streamed live on Cardiff City TV free of charge.
The Opposition
Birmingham City are currently fifth in the U23 PDL's North Division league table, with 15 points taken from their opening ten matches in their 2019/20 campaign.
Blues most recently ran out against Bolton Wanderers on November 1st, defeating the side 6-0 at home. The team are currently in good form, having previously defeated Leeds United 3-0 in the week prior to their most recent match.
The young Bluebirds' last meeting with Birmingham City resulted in a 3-1 away defeat against Blues in April 2019, In the penultimate fixture of the 2018/19 league campaign.
Birmingham City took the lead against the run of play after 32 minutes as striker Beryly Lubala headed home off the post to break the deadlock at the Autotech Stadium.
In the second half, the Blues achieved their second goal of the match to double the lead through Corey O’Keefe. The midfielder fired home from range with 53 minutes played.
The hosts added a third a few minutes later, as Remeao Hutton clinically dispatched the ball past Warren Burwood to further the their lead.
hough the young Bluebirds managed to get a goal back late on in the encounter, it wasn't quite enough to start a late comeback, with the three points going to Blues with the final whistle blown.
In the Hot Seat
Birmingham City's U23 Head Coach is Xavi Calm. Appointed by the club in the role in July 2019, Calm joined Blues coaching at their sister club, UE Cornella, in Spain.
Calm ended his three years spent at the Spanish club with a campaign that saw him lead the side to the Segunda División B Play-Offs at the end of the 2018/19 season.
Xavi had previously reached the Play-Offs to reach the top flight of Spanish football when he was assistant head coach of the club in the season prior.
