Cardiff City’s under-21s side beat Barnsley 3-1 at Cardiff City Stadium on Tuesday, with the likes of Isaak Davies and Ebou Adams getting much-needed minutes under their belts.
It was also a big opportunity for Joel Bagan, Ollie Denham and Eli King. The three youngsters had a taste of first-team action under Steve Morison but have found themselves out in the cold under Sabri Lamouchi. With each of them out of contract in June, the game against the Tykes offered one of the few remaining chances this season to impress and earn a new deal.
A scrappy first half, which saw Barnsley miss a penalty, was overshadowed by a nasty-looking injury to Cameron Antwi. The midfielder went to challenge for a bouncing ball around the half-hour mark before his head met the high boot of Barnsley’s trialist, wearing No.5, who was trying to hook the ball away. The accidental collision left Antwi down for more than five minutes before he managed to hobble off with the support of his team-mates, a slightly more pleasing sight than what it would have been if a stretcher was used.
Once the game resumed, a breakthrough soon came on the stroke of half-time after Ebou Adams’ stunning side-footed volley from 20 yards landed in the top corner of the Barnsley net, before Harrison Nejman’s added-time finish sent the sides in level at the break.
Early in the second half, Isaak Davies restored City’s lead after latching on to a poor back pass from the Barnsley defender before two substitutes combined as Cian Ashford added a third in the 80th minute thanks to Joel Colwill's precise through-ball.
The win leaves the Bluebirds in fifth place in the Professional Development League South, with two games remaining. There were three players in particular who stood out for the young Bluebirds in the PDL clash...
Isaak Davies
Intensity is probably the best word to associate with Davies’ performance. The 21-year-old played like a man with a point to prove and looked lively from the opening minutes until he was subbed off after 66 minutes of action.
An early run inside from the left, which saw Davies beat a couple of defenders, ended with the Welshman forcing Tykes ‘keeper Adam Hayton into a strong save from his low drive. This came in the fourth minute and set the tone for the remainder of the forward’s game.
He was a constant option as he worked the channels while his link-up play was neat and composed. On the rare occasion he lost the ball he was after it like a terrier and soon won it back. He took his goal well and it was one which came from his own making after chasing down and forcing the Barnsley defender into an error.
Overall, Davies was sharp and tenacious and looked a cut above the rest, giving Sabri Lamouchi some serious food-for-thought going into the final fixtures of the season.
Ebou Adams
Adams is a bit of an enigma to many Cardiff fans. His signing from Forest Green Rovers on a free transfer last summer, after impressing during their promotion campaign from League Two, left many excited to see his presence in a midfield which was looking light on the ground.
A freak incident in pre-season then left him with a serious shoulder injury which was supposed to take a couple of months to heal. Various setbacks since have meant that Adams is still yet to make his competitive debut for the first team and having to make-do with under-21 appearances as he looks to rebuild his fitness.
Against Barnsley, Adams was perhaps a victim of the scrappy first half hour, as initially he struggled to get a foothold in the game. However, after his goal - which was worthy of winning any match nevermind an under-21s clash - he grew further into the action.
Playing in a slightly more advanced role, the 27-year-old rarely gave the ball away, linked up well with his team-mates and managed to bring composure to a game which had been lacking it for much of the first half. He was subbed off after 66 minutes with the comfortable all-round display suggesting he isn’t too far off first-team football now and should be in a good position to have a productive pre-season.
Eli King
King cut a composed figure in midfield, playing in the six, as he demonstrated his strong range of passing. A 36th-minute, 40-yard diagonal ball to put Isaac Jefferies away on the right hand side, and a similar one for Lennon Peake in the second half, were top of the highlights reel for him.
He also showed a bite in the tackle, too, and was unlucky to be penalised for the penalty decision after, on first look at least, appearing to have won the ball. He could have opened the scoring too after a defensive mix-up left him free in the area, only to drag his effort wide. Despite this, he still delivered a strong overall performance.
The 20-year-old made his first-team debut in October 2021 away to Middlesbrough before making a handful of promising appearances for Steve Morison’s men, including the FA Cup tie at Anfield last January, during which he didn’t look out of place against a midfield consisting of Jordan Henderson, Naby Keita and Curtis Jones.
Appearances since Morison’s departure, however, have been hard to come by with King spending the first half of the season on loan at League Two side Crewe, making 18 appearances before returning to the Bluebirds for the second half of the campaign.
Yet to play for the Bluebirds under Lamouchi, and with his contract up this summer, he’ll be hoping an EFL Cup runout against Portsmouth last August doesn’t prove to be his final first-team appearance.
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