BLUEBIRDS
How did a host of first-teamers fare in Under-23 action?
FOUR Cardiff City first-teamers featured for the Under-23s side as they cruised past Watford 2-0.
Both Nathaniel Mendez-Laing and Gary Madine got their names on the scoresheet, but how did they and others actually perform for Jarred Harvey’s side? Here’s the lowdown...
Brian Murphy
The former Queens Park Rangers goalkeeper was the most experienced player on the pitch and it showed.
He may be Neil Warnock’s thirdchoice shot-stopper these days, but ‘Murph’ is about as reliable as they come and he marshaled a young Cardiff back line very well.
There was one great save to deny Watford’s Michael Folivi from opening the scoring in the first half.
Otherwise, it was just about solid handling and good distribution from Murphy. Young goalkeeper Warren Burwood was on the bench for Cardiff and will hopefully learn from watching someone of Murphy’s nous.
Loic Damour
The midfielder cast doubt on his Bluebirds future in an interview with French media last week, but he still appeared hungry to make his mark even in such a low-key fixture.
That’s always been his style, hustling and harrying in the middle of the pitch but perhaps lacking the composure Cardiff need in those areas – especially in the Premier League.
Warnock is likely to have Joe Ralls, Aron Gunnarsson, Harry Arter and Victor Camarasa all available at the same time, for the first time this season, against Everton. For that reason alone, Damour’s desires for more first-team football will probably not be fulfilled any time soon.
Nathaniel Mendez-Laing
Mendez-Laing was the main attraction of the evening given his importance to Warnock’s senior squad and he made it look like he’d never been away. There were concerns the explosive right-winger might be missing until Christmas after tearing a posterior cruciate ligament in the Premier League clash with Huddersfield early in the season.
But Mendez-Laing looked like his old self when powering down the right-wing against Watford’s Under-23s, not shirking a challenge despite having missed three months of action.
He’s actually been back training on grass for a few weeks, with this Under-23 performance the culmination of that hard work. The goal was taken with aplomb on 67 minutes before Mendez-Laing was immediately replaced.
And he may even be in contention for the bench as Cardiff travel to Everton for that crucial Premier League game this weekend.
“No problem at all,” said Cardiff Under-23s boss Harvey on how Mendez-Laing fared.
“He wanted to play 90 minutes but (we were under) strict orders. It was a good goal, a good bit of play. We were meant to bring him off a bit before that, but he was adamant.
“It’s good that he got his goal to give him confidence. The same with Gaz (Gary Madine) to get his goal. They’re big players for us and we need to get them sharp for the first team.”
Gary Madine
Cardiff fans’ reactions on social media were predictably amusing when they discovered Madine had found the net for the Under-23s.
Gary Madine goals don’t come around very often in Bluebirds colours, so it was pleasing for everyone when the former Bolton frontman nodded home just before the end to make it 2-0.
But, in truth, the striker hadn’t looked particularly impressive during the 90 minutes that had transpired before. He won plenty of aerial balls and linked play well enough, but enjoyed precious few sights of goal.
That Madine was even featuring for the Under-23s says a lot about his standing at Cardiff right now.