Dan Ola in Cardiff City U18 training

U18 Match Preview | Wigan Athletic vs. Cardiff City

Academy
Cardiff City’s U18s return to PDL action this Saturday, as they travel to to take on Wigan Athletic at Christopher Park – KO at 11am.

The young Bluebirds come into this fixture off the back of a 4-4 draw at home to Hull City in midweek. After going 2-0 down inside the opening 20 minutes, a Tanatswa Nyakuhwa brace and one for Jake Davies meant City went in ahead at half time. Hull equalised 20 seconds into the second half, only for Davies to put City ahead a handful of minutes later. However, five minutes before the end, the Tigers levelled once again, meaning Tom Hutton’s side had to settle for a point.

As a result of that draw, City stay in fourth spot in the PDL South on 36 points. They are seven points behind second placed Watford, who occupy the final Play-Off spot, and have three games in hand on the Hornets.

This weekend sees City travel to take on Wigan Athletic. The Latics come into the contest in tenth place in the PDL North, having only won five of their 24 games. They also played in midweek and picked up a 2-2 draw away to mid-table Crewe Alexandra. When these two played last season, it was City who came out on top, winning 2-0 away from home.

Tom Hutton in training for Cardiff City U18

We caught up with head coach Hutton to preview Saturday's clash. 

"Against Hull City in midweek, whilst inconsistency is expected when you're working with young players, the level of performance was so high in some moments, but in other ways, it was nowhere near the levels we want to set and that's what cost us two points. 

"On Saturday, there's an opportunity straight away to put that right and build on some of the positives from midweek. We've got a busy schedule coming up and we've framed it to the lads that we're replicating the realistic challenges of being a First Team player at Championship level. They'll have to deal with victory or defeat, but then turn around to the next game quickly. 

"When you travel to some of the further away games, it gives you the opportunity to prepare slightly differently. We've got a few things lined up in how we're going to prepare the boys. It's a challenge that we're looking forward to."