Match Preview | Cardiff City vs. Bristol Rovers
Cardiff City will play their fourth pre-season match of the season on Tuesday, 11th July (3pm KO), as they welcome Bristol Rovers to South Wales.
Tomorrow's clash will consist of 2 x 60 minute matches.
The match will be played behind closed doors, but you can watch live with a Match Pass on Cardiff City TV!
Opposition Focus | In the dugout
The man in charge of Bristol Rovers is former Premier League midfielder Joey Barton.
After coming through the ranks at Everton and Liverpool, Barton kicked-off his professional career at Manchester City.
The midfielder spent five years in the First Team setup with City, making over 100 appearances. However, he moved to Newcastle United in 2007.
After four seasons on the Tyne, Barton headed to London to join Queens Park Rangers. QPR was the last club he had a major stint at, before playing for the likes of Marseille and Rangers, and ending his playing career at Burnley.
Barton returned to the game in 2018 as a manager with Fleetwood Town. Barton spent two and a half years with the Fishermen before leaving the club in January 2021.
A month later, he was back in management with Bristol Rovers. Barton couldn’t save the club from relegation to League Two in his debut campaign, but in his first full season he guided Rovers back to League One.
In total, Barton has managed 255 games: winning 99, drawing 62, and losing 94, with a win percentage of 38.8%
Opposition Focus | A look at last season
After winning promotion back to the third tier in 2021/22, the Gas finished last season in 17th place.
They never looked threatened with relegation and competed in mid-table for most of the season, eventually finishing eight points above the drop.
Rovers suffered defeat to Crawley Town in the First Round of the Carabao Cup, and were then knocked out in the second round of the FA Cup by non-league side Boreham Wood.
Welshman Aaron Collins finished top of the scoring charts with 16 goals in the league. He also recorded 12 assists, and, as the only player in the division to reach double figures in both categories, was named as EFL League One Player of the Season.
Opposition Focus | Summer Business
Rovers have seen a few players depart the Memorial Stadium this summer. Winger Harry Anderson left the club on a free transfer to newly promoted Stevenage, whilst veteran midfielder Glenn Whelan retired and joined the club’s coaching staff.
In terms of incomings, the Pirates have bolstered their attacking force. Luke Thomas has joined from Barnsley, and striker Jevani Brown arrived from Exeter City.
They’ve also added experience to the squad. Veteran full-back George Friend has signed from Birmingham City, while centre-back James Wilson joins from Plymouth.
Club connection | Jason Perry
Hailing from Caerphilly, centre-back Jason Perry was a regular fixture in the Bluebirds defence throughout the 1990s.
Perry spent over a decade at Ninian Park, winning the Third Division with the club during the 1992/93 season, and reaching the Welsh Cup Final on three occasions.
Injuries curtailed the latter part of his career in the capital, and Perry left the club in 1997 to make the short trip over the Severn Bridge to join Rovers.
He made 25 appearances at the Memorial Ground but departed after a single season.
