U18 Match Preview: Cardiff City vs Hull City

Academy

Craig Bellamy’s U18 side take on Hull City in their fourth PDL2 fixture of the 2018/19 season, looking to maintain their 100% league record this season at Cardiff International Sports Stadium – 11am kick-off.

City currently sit top of the PDL2 South and will be looking to build on a resilient 2-0 win against Barnsley at Oakwell Training Ground last Saturday. Daniel Griffiths’ third goal in as many games and a 77th minute goal from Jac Davies led the young Bluebirds to a third consecutive victory.

Entry is free to the Cardiff International Sports Campus (CF11 8AZ), and the match will take place on the external grass pitch.

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Know your Opponent

The Tigers finished 8th last season in the PDL2 North with thirty-eight points from eleven wins and five draws but have endured a tough start to the 2018/19 season and are still yet to register a single point from three games. They were knocked out of the 2017/18 FA Youth Cup at the first time of asking in the third round, losing 3-0 to Bournemouth under the lights at the Vitality Stadium.

Hull City also struggled in the 2016/17 season and their U18 side finished bottom of the league with seven wins from twenty-eight matches. They made it to the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup that season but were knocked out against AFC Wimbledon on Tuesday 10th January 2017 after a 3-0 defeat.

At First Team level - our superb 2-0 win over Hull City during the final away game of the 2017/18 campaign set up that epic finale, against Reading.

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Backroom Staff

Our opponents are currently managed by the duo of Richard Naylor (pictured above)  and Richard O’Donnell, with Naylor winning an U18 League title with Leeds United in the 2012/13 season. Naylor possesses a plethora of experience as an ex-professional with over 400 appearances under his belt for Leeds United, Ipswich Town, Doncaster Rovers and Rotherham United respectively. This is his third season with the Tigers.

O’Donnell has been with the Tigers for over ten years. O’Donnell was a former youth team player for Barnsley and Scunthorpe United, but a serious knee injury ended any hopes of becoming a professional footballer.

Jon Beale is Academy Manager at Hull City and has held the role since November 2016. Prior to joining Hull, Beale spent a number of years at Swansea City’s academy, holding various roles within the set-up during his time at the club.

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Previous Meetings

City have an impressive record against the Tigers in league action, having not lost a game to their counterparts in over two years. The most recent match between the two sides was on the opening day of the 2017/18 season, with the young Bluebirds gaining a point in a 2-2 draw away from home. Jack Bodenham captained the side, with goals from Laurence Wotton and Sion Spence ensuring the visitors picked up a point after being 2-0 down at the break on August 12th, 2017.

The last time Cardiff City hosted the fixture, was on the opening day of the 2016/17 season. The game didn’t disappoint, as the young Bluebirds edged out a seven-goal thriller at USW Sports Park, defeating Hull City 4-3. Goals from James Waite, Mark Harris and a double from Cameron Coxe made sure that the Tigers travelled back up north with nothing to show for their efforts.

Catch-Up: Highlights of the match will be available to subscribers of Cardiff City TV.

Social: Live Updates will come from via our official Academy Twitter account, @CF11Academy.