Match Preview | Cardiff City vs. Burnley
Cardiff City welcome Burnley to Cardiff City Stadium on Saturday afternoon, 3pm KO.
OPPOSITION FOCUS | IN THE DUGOUT
Burnley’s first-team manager is former Manchester City centre-back Vincent Kompany, who was appointed in June 2022, becoming the club’s first manager from outside the UK and Ireland, as well as being the first Belgian to manage in English football.
Kompany’s playing career was hugely successful, as he was renowned as one of the best centre-backs in world football. Having impressed at Anderlecht and Hamburger SV, the defender joined Manchester City in 2008.
Spending eleven years at the Etihad Stadium, Kompany was a four-time Premier League champion, along with winning the FA Cup on three occasions and the EFL Cup four times.
During the latter stages of his playing career, the defender re-joined Anderlecht, going on to become the club’s manager in 2020, on the same day as his retirement from professional football.
After two years in charge at the Constant Vanden Stock Stadium, Kompany made the switch to the Clarets this summer.
OPPOSITION FOCUS | SEASON SO FAR
Kompany’s side currently sit fourth in the Championship table, having won four, drawn five and lost one of their opening ten fixtures.
Their campaign began with a 1-0 win at Huddersfield Town, before recording draws against Luton Town, Hull City and Blackpool, as well as a loss to Watford.
However, the Clarets’ results have picked up in recent weeks, with a notable 5-1 win over Wigan Athletic, in which the dangerous Josh Brownhill netted a brace.
Following up with a 2-0 win over Millwall, Kompany’s men drew to West Bromwich Albion and Preston North End prior to beating Bristol City in their most recent fixture.
OPPOSITION FOCUS | KEY PLAYERS
Burnley striker Jay Rodriguez has made a positive start to the campaign, netting five league goals so far this season. The attacker has been a threat for the Clarets since joining from West Bromwich Albion in 2019 and found the net in their most recent fixture, a 2-1 victory over Bristol City.
Also impressing so far this campaign is Brownhill, who moved to Turf Moor from Bristol City in 2020. The playmaker has found the net on four occasions, including a brace in their rampant 5-1 win over Wigan Athletic. In Burnley’s opening ten fixtures, Brownhill has played every single minute.
Over the summer, boss Kompany acquired the services of Nathan Tella, on loan from Premier League outfit Southampton, who has shown his threat so far in a Burnley shirt. The pacey winger netted twice in a dramatic 3-3 draw against Blackpool, whilst also netting in the victory over Wigan Athletic.
CITY FLASHBACK | PARRY AND CAMPBELL SECURE VICTORY AT NINIAN PARK
City welcomed the Clarets to Ninian Park in April 2004 in the Bluebirds’ first season back in Division One, having been promoted in the previous season.
Lennie Lawrence’s side edged a tight match, in which the substitutes proved to be the difference for City.
With the deadlock yet to be broken heading into the final twenty minutes, the introduction of Paul Parry and Andy Campbell turned the game in the Bluebirds’ favour.
Just minutes after coming on, Campbell was brought down in the box by Mark McGregor to earn a penalty, which Richard Langley calmly slotted home.
With ten minutes left on the clock, Parry brilliantly played in Campbell, who slid in a second goal for City to earn all three points.
