' Ben Nugent ready for play-off final '

Cardiff City starlet Ben Nugent ready for development play-off final
9 May 2013


Nugent has had an outstanding season, making 12 Championship appearances, having started the campaign as Development team captain.


Cardiff City defender Ben Nugent back in development action for final

Ben Nugent was in the thick of Championship action when Cardiff City won the title – and the young defender is on course for more success.

Centre-half Nugent, 20, is in a young Bluebirds team for their Premier Development League play-off final against Charlton Athletic at Cardiff City Stadium this Saturday afternoon.

Nugent has had an outstanding season, making 12 Championship appearances, having started the campaign as Development team captain.

He became a first-team squad regular and handed the armband to Joe Ralls, but Nugent is back in the Development team for their play-offs.

Etien Velikonja, the 13-goals top scorer for the team, and Rhys Healey, who has scored five goals this season, are leading the title charge at Development level.

City’s 3-2 semi-final win against Leicester City at the King Power stadium was their sixth successive away win, while they finished South Division fixtures with eight consecutive home victories.

The young Bluebirds have scored 23 goals in that run of home wins, conceding three.

Coach Kevin Cooper and his team finished runners-up to Charlton Athletic in the South Division, missing first place on goal difference.

City won 2-0 against Charlton at home, when highly-rated full-back Declan John and winger Craig Conway were the scorers, but crashed 4-0 against away in the return clash.

Centre-half Adedeji Oshilaja scored two goals for Cardiff in their semi-final win at Leicester, while an own goal netted by Sean McGinty provided the other.

McGinty was put under pressure by left-back John’s cross and, with Velikonja making a strong run, turned the ball into his own net.

Leicester were twice in front, but Cardiff fought back each time and came out on top.

Cardiff City squad (v Charlton):

E Parish (gk), D Richards (gk), B Nugent, D John, J Yorwerth, A Oshilaja, F Kiss, T Wharton, J Ralls (capt); E Velikonja, R Healey, K Harris, K Owen, T O’Sullivan, J Darko, A Bell.

Spectators are welcome at the play-off final and entry to the Cardiff City Stadium is free

What date is the final?

Its saturday 3pm kick off. Free to get in, free parking too

Gonna have to go to that, just to see etien play!

personally i think nugent has gone backwards this season. Was superb when he first got into the side but has been pretty awful recently when called on.

Still he is only young so wont be judging too harshly yet.

f**k me you had me worried Annis.saw the word play off and thought the automatic promotion was all a dream and I'd woken up .

I wish they'd stop calling this a playoff final. You know our record in them haha

I will be down for this should be good and I get a chance to see the trophy can't wait

Be great for the youngsters to have a nice bigger crowd than usual to cheer them on!