City’s U21s produced an emphatic performance to defeat Peterborough United 6-0 in Professional Development League action.
MATCH SUMMARY
Both sides started brightly at Cardiff International Sports Campus, creating half chances in the opening 10 minutes. City’s press caused problems for Peterborough, forcing mistakes high up the pitch, with Dan Ola coming close twice.
Kurtis Simmons sent his header just over the crossbar in the closest effort early on for the Posh. However, the game soon began to settle into a period of sustained pressure from City.
Following that pressure, the young Bluebirds took the lead when Troy Perrett reacted quickest to a loose ball inside the box to tap home his sixth goal of the season.
Riley Hilaire-Clarke and Gabriel Keita both came close to doubling the advantage, but City were forced to settle for a one-goal lead heading into the interval.
The side continued to impress after the restart and found their second through Jake Davies, who fired a powerful right-footed effort into the roof of the net. The winger’s impressive form continues with his fourth goal in five games.
Captain Charlie O’Brien then made it three, powering home a close-range header from an Isaac Davies corner. City added a fourth just moments later, with substitute Herbie James calmly slotting past Bastian Smith after pouncing on a slip that sent him through on goal.
O’Brien was denied his second of the evening when his header struck the post, but Thierry Katsukunya was on hand to convert the rebound from close-range and make it 5-0 in the 80th minute.
There was still time for another substitute to get on the scoresheet, as Hayden Allmark completed the scoring with a low finish into the bottom right corner.
The result sees the young Bluebirds make it five games unbeaten in all competitions as they climb the Professional Development League table ahead of the international break.
REACTION | MATTHEW BLOXHAM
“I thought we played with great intensity and great confidence with the ball. We’ve really asked in the last few days to try and attack with more impact, to try and arrive in the box with more intent.
“I think what you saw, especially in the first 30 minutes of the game, was a real intensity. We were playing with real attacking intent that we hoped would end up in more than one goal in the first half. The second half, I think we put that right.
“We always want to keep a clean sheet. We challenge the defenders and goalkeepers, and right the way through the team, we want to be a defensive team that presses high and we want to limit the opposition.
“I’m delighted with the clean sheet, but also the impact everyone in the team had. The substitutes who came on today really made an impact and really played a part, and it’s opened up more competition in the squad.
“The challenge for us now is to maintain that consistency and intensity. It doesn’t really matter who we play because we want our intent to be the same, and we want to make sure that the performance we showed tonight when we play Leicester is the same.”
REACTION | CHARLIE O’BRIEN
“It’s always a good night when it’s 6-0. The biggest thing for me is the clean sheet. We went into the game saying we need a clean sheet, we need goals, and we walked away with both.
“It’s a really positive performance and sets us up well going into the (international) break.
“It’s always nice to get on the scoresheet, especially as a full-back. In the modern game as a full-back, you need to get goals and assists, so to add that into my game is quite important.
“Having a player with the quality of Isaac Davies for the deliveries, he’s just going to find you. To show that little bit of aggression, he’ll find you. I have to give a bit of credit to Darran Lovell as well. He’s been working hard on the set-pieces, so he’s got his reward tonight.
“It was a different challenge playing at left-back and captaining the side, but I really enjoyed it. Being able to play different positions is a positive thing to show, so being able to do that tonight and then getting the win, with the clean sheet, it’s been a good night.
“We’ve got a really good squad at the moment. Everyone’s in a really good place, and results like tonight only further that, we’ve been working really hard, so I think we deserved it.”
PRE-MATCH | GABRIEL KEITA
"As a team, we were happy with how we played against Sheffield United. We felt like we were the better side in the first and second half, so overall it was quite a positive game for us.
“Our standards are high in training, and that is translating into the games to get results. Being unbeaten in the last four games is crucial, and it’s now very important for us to keep the ball rolling.
“The last two games and the week we have had has been very good, so it would be great to now top that off with a win against Peterborough on Friday going into the international break.
“We know they are a strong side. They like to be aggressive and run, but I feel like the way we have been training and playing, with our intensity to press and our ways to play through the lines, hopefully we can come away with the three points.
“The competition at the back with Noah [Anyadike], Thierry [Katsukunya], myself and T-Jay [Parfitt] is really strong. We’re all fighting for the shirt, so it’s essential to keep our heads screwed on and keep doing exactly what we’ve been doing for the team and for ourselves.”
RECENT RESULTS
The Bluebirds rescued a point at Bramall Lane on Monday afternoon, drawing 1-1 with Sheffield United in Professional Development League action.
City trailed 1-0 at the break, with the Blades finding the opener through Chris Eadie in the 43rd minute.
However, City found an equaliser early in the second half through the in-form Jake Davies, who scored his third goal in four games.
That result took City’s unbeaten run to four games in all competitions.
TICKET INFORMATION
All supporters can gain entry for the match at the Cardiff International Sports Campus free of charge.
REACHING THE GROUND
Supporters planning on attending the fixture should use the following address:
Cardiff International Sports Campus, Leckwith Rd, Cardiff, CF11 8AZ.
The ground is approximately an 11-minute walk away from Ninian Park Train Station and 32-minute walk from Cardiff Central Train Station.