Callum O’Dowda. The name alone, without any question or context is, is enough to spark passionate debate within the Bristol City faithful, albeit not with the same fury now he bears the blue of Cardiff City.
Sunday’s Severnside derby will be the first time O’Dowda sets foot in Ashton Gate since his last appearance at the stadium on February 9, as his departure at the end of last season on a free transfer ended six years at the club, in a city he made his new home.
It's unfair, but in many ways that 19-minute second-half cameo against Reading was unfortunately symbolic of how his time at City will largely be remembered, as O'Dowda came off the bench full of energy but made some glaring errors in possession and then departed with an injury.
Since moving to south Wales, the 27-year-old has been among Cardiff’s very best players - one goal and two assists are testament to that - which represents a departure from his latter years with the Robins where, for all his talent and promise, his inconsistencies - in performance and availability for selection - were a constant source of frustration for managers and fans alike.
Despite his 176 appearances, seasons of service and a feeling of returning to a stadium where he’ll be among many friends, and just a stone’s throw from where he used to live in Bedminster, he’ll undoubtedly receive a hostile welcome from a heavily-populated Ashton Gate and Cardiff manager Steve Morison believes how the winger manages the atmosphere and focus on him will be crucial to his performance.
The Bluebirds head coach accepts that having been cast aside by Nigel Pearson, albeit with City keen to keep O’Dowda but just on reduced terms, and never fully embraced by the supporters in BS3, he will have a sizeable point to prove on Sunday afternoon.
“Yeah, most probably,” Morison said. “You can see why there were 10 or 12 teams after him in the summer. If you get him right and play him in the right areas, he is excellent.
“He did a job for us at left-back, but he doesn’t have to worry about being pushed to left-back or wing-back, that won’t be happening, because you can see the damage that he can do at the other end of the pitch.
“I’m sure he’ll be looking forward to going back. It’s just about him dealing with the occasion.”
Morison’s words above also hint at where O’Dowda will be deployed in his likely 4-2-3-1 set-up. Jamilu Collins’ unfortunate ACL injury has ruled the Nigerian international out for the rest of the season and although O’Dowda deputised at left-back against West Brom in midweek, it appears he’ll be required to play further up the field.
That will likely result in a first start of the season for 20-year-old Joel Bagan who played in the first Severnside derby of last season, as Andi Weimann’s double secured a 2-1 win at Cardiff City Stadium almost 12 months ago.
The Bluebirds’ derby record in 2021/22 was dreadful - four defeats from four games against the Robins and Swansea - and it’s one of their aims and targets within this campaign to address that disappointment.
Although Morison admits that the 3-2 loss in January at Ashton Gate, as a Chris Martin double powered the Robins to success, did prove a “turning point” in the Bluebirds season as they flirted with relegation only to eventually finished well clear of the drop zone.
“It affected me after the Swansea loss because of the backlash from it,” Morison added, as Cardiff lost 3-0 and 4-0 to their south Wales rivals. “There wasn’t a right thing to say after that game, because everything you said got torn apart. It was a disappointing part of a thing we had to do.
“It’s not good losing a game, but that Bristol City loss was a turning point, we near enough got ourselves safe after that. It wasn’t a good day but it ended up being the catalyst for the positive results we needed.
“The Swansea one, it affected you mentally. The backlash was awful and we have to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
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