Match Preview | Cardiff City vs. Birmingham City
Cardiff City welcome Birmingham City to Cardiff City Stadium on Wednesday, December 13th, 7.45pm KO.
OPPOSITION FOCUS | IN THE DUGOUT
The Blues’ manager is Wayne Rooney, who was appointed in October on a three-and-a-half year contract.
During his playing career, Rooney scored 253 goals for Manchester United in all competitions, making him the club’s top scorer of all time.
His 183 Premier League goals is the third most scored by a player in the competition for one club, behind Harry Kane’s tally for Tottenham Hotspur and Sergio Agüero’s record for Manchester City.
Moving to management in 2020, Rooney began with Derby County, before going on to manage D.C. United in the MLS.
Since taking over at Birmingham City, he has won just one of his opening nine fixtures, whilst losing six.
OPPOSITION FOCUS | SEASON SO FAR
Rooney’s side arrive in the Welsh capital currently sitting 17th in the table, having recorded just one point from their last three matches.
Last time out, the Blues travelled to Coventry City and fell to a 2-0 defeat thanks to a brace from Callum O’Hare.
After 20 league games last season, the side were tenth in the table with five more points than they have this year.
The Blues have struggled on their travels in this campaign, recording just one away win in ten games.
OPPOSITION FOCUS | KEY PLAYER
An important part of Birmingham City’s squad is Juninho Bacuna, who joined the Blues in January 2022 from Rangers.
The midfielder already had Championship experience prior to signing, having played over 100 league games for Huddersfield Town.
So far this season, Bacuna has netted four goals and has contributed with two assists.
Also boasting experience at international level, the 26-year-old has made 27 appearances for Curaçao, several of them alongside his brother, ex-Bluebird Leandro.
CLUB CONNECTION | CHRIS BURKE
Winger Chris Burke became a Bluebird in 2009, joining on a free transfer from Rangers.
Burke went on to become a key component of Dave Jones' side and was a popular figure with the City fanbase, making over 100 league appearances for the Club.
Joining Birmingham City in 2011, the Scotsman was notably a part of Blues’ starting eleven in the club’s first match in European competition in nearly 50 years, taking on Portuguese side Nacional in the Europa League Play-Off round.
Burke made an impression at St Andrew’s, picking up the club’s Player of the Year Award, as well as Players’ and Junior Blues’ Player of the Year awards on the Blues’ way to a Championship Play-Off Semi-Final defeat.
