Mon Jul 18, 2022 12:59 pm
Fresh legs
Saturday was the first time Cardiff fans were able to catch a glimpse of four new signings in action, as well as captain Joe Ralls, with all of them playing the final 30 minutes of proceedings in Gloucestershire.
Romaine Sawyers, Cedric Kipre, Callum O'Dowda and Sheyi Ojo were all given the chance to impress and, while it's difficult to really read too much into any player's first 30 minutes of pre-season, there were certainly some encouraging signs .
Sawyers would have opened his Cardiff account were he not denied by a smart near-post save from Shaun MacDonald in the Cheltenham goal, while O'Dowda and Ojo marauded down the wings with acceptable competence, slotting nicely into a 4-3-3 system that has been so heavily favoured this summer.
Kipre looked reasonably comfortable at the back too considering he'd only arrived some 24 hours before, but we likely won't get a real feel for his defensive abilities until he's pitted up against a higher standard of opposition.
For now, it's all about getting minutes in the legs, and Morison certainly seemed pleased with what he saw.
STEVE MORISON:
"It's the first time Callum, Sheyi, Rallsy and Romaine have been on the football pitch this season," he said.
"They are still going to be a bit rusty, but I can't wait until we see them when they've got the rust off."