U23 Match Preview: Queens Park Rangers vs. Cardiff City

Cardiff City's U23 side travel to face Queens Park Rangers in the Professional Development League at Imperial College Sports Ground on Monday afternoon - kick-off at 1pm.

The Opposition

QPR's U23 side are currently in seventh place on the PDL's South Division table, having taken 16 points from their opening 14 matches this season. 

The side have had mixed form over the past few weeks, defeating Colchester United 2-0 in their last match, but losing all three of their prior fixtures in the league campaign, including the reverse fixture against the U's when they played away from home.

The R's finished in eighth place on the table at the end of their last campaign, concluding the season with 31 points on their tally. 

Climbing up the table in the early months of the season, the Rangers went on a nine-match unbeaten streak. However, a dip in form followed, as they won only one of their remaining fixtures during the remainder of the campaign, picking up three points against Hull City in a 2-1 home victory.

Last Time Out

City's U23 side last faced QPR on February 25th, 2019, as the Bluebirds defeated their opponents 3-0 at Cardiff international Sports Campus. 

Following a tense first half wherein the hosts saw several chances saved or deflected, a clinical restart following the interval granted City two goals in the opening minutes of the second half.

Sion Spence saw his effort on goal fumbled by the 'keeper, with the ball creeping over the goal line to put City ahead. Danny Williams, who was on hand to tap in the first goal after it had crossed the goal line, made sure to get his name on the scoreboard shortly afterwards.

Trystan Jones received a cross into the visitors' area and set up Williams, who fired home on his first touch, doubling City's lead not five minutes from the restart.

Dan Griffiths ran onto a well weighted pass forward to get the Bluebirds their third and final goal of the afternoon with little time remaining, taking the ball in his stride before dispatching it into the net at the bottom left corner.

Catch-Up: Extended highlights of the match will be available on Cardiff City TV.

Social: Live updates will come via our official Academy Twitter account, @CF11Academy!