MATCH THREAD: " CARDIFF CITY v AFC WIMBLEDON " MATCH THREAD

CARDIFF CITY v AFC WIMBLEDON
Tuesday 2nd December, 7pm
Vertu Trophy Round of 32
Cardiff City Stadium 



Cardiff City: Turner; Kingdon, Osho, Lawlor, Giles; Mafico, J. Colwill, Perrett; Ashford, Nyakuhwa, Kellyman.

Subs: Dennis, Williams, Parfitt, Apter, George, Donczew, Pearce.





TEAM NEWS:


The majority of the players who played against Arsenal (U-21s) will be in the squad but we'll also have the likes of Dakarai Mafico,
Tanatswa
Nyakuhwa and Luey Giles.

"We'll check if there's anyone else in the squad that we feel will benefit from playing in the game."
Brian Barry-Murphy

Cardiff City head coach

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About AFC Wimbledon

AFC Wimbledon were formed in 2002 as a phoenix club, following the scandalous approval to move the original club to Milton Keynes.

They started off in the ninth tier and got to the National League within seven years. Their first promotion to the EFL followed in 2011.

Following their promotion to League One in 2016, they stayed there for six years before relegation in 2022. They returned this year to the third tier.

Club Connections

Neal Ardley, who played for us and coached our academy, spent six years at Wimbledon between 2012 and 2018.

The Opposition's Manager

Johnnie Jackson was appointed Wimbledon manager in May 2022.

Last season, he guided them back to League One via the play-offs.

He also had a spell in charge of Charlton.

Head To Head - last meeting 

We won 1-0 at Wimbledon in the league in August.

Isaak Davies scored the only goal.

Team News - Predicted Line-Ups

BBM has said that there will be a similar team to who played against Arsenal U21s, although there will be a few first team players to follow the rules.

AFC Wimbledon are also likely to make a lot of changes.

Last Game

We won our group, following a 3-1 win against Arsenal U21s.

Wimbledon won away at Bromley in their final group game, finishing 2nd in their group.

Match Odds

Cardiff City - 4/7
AFC Wimbledon - 3/1
Draw - 5/2

Predictions

Post your predictions below 

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As usual, a scaled back match thread for a Vertu Trophy game.

Expect there will be limited interest, as there was for the earlier games in this competition.

Same rules still apply - straight to penalties if it's level after 90 minutes.

Can see Osho and Chamber starting this

The manager was full of praise for the 712 Wimbledon fans that made the journey to the Accu Stadium in the treacherous conditions.

“Yeah, it's unbelievable. It's unbelievable, the conditions, windy, rainy, we're a long way from home. So again, magnificent support.

“Gutted that we could have given them a win, but I'm so pleased that we've given them something, because we haven't in the last few games.

“So it's important today that we got something on the board and rewarded them for the way that they supported the team. Safe travels to all of them going back to London.”

Finally, looking ahead to the clash against Cardiff City in the Vertu Trophy round of 32 in three days time, the manager outlined the side’s plans saying: “This is going to be about rest and recovery.

“That was a hard game of football, that, on a big pitch in tough conditions against a really good team. So recovery will be key.

“Travelling down to Wales on Monday, we'll see how the boys come out of it, but we're going to go there and it's a cup tie, so get through, try and win the game.

“We’ll see how the boys recover, pick a team that I think can go and do the job, but it's nice to get one on the board today - a point.

“Could have been three, but not to be, but it gives us a little bit of confidence going down to Wales for Tuesday night.”

Think we will see a slightly stronger team for this one than the arsenal game

BBM has promised to give the same youngster's that beat Arsenal the chance in this round as well

CCFC FIXTURES:




Tues December 2 7pm Vertu Trophy Rd 32 Cardiff City v AFC Wimbledon

Sat Dec 6 12:30pm Cardiff City v Huddersfield Town Crowd Away Support

Tue Dec 9 Stevenage v Cardiff City Crowd Away Support

Sat Dec 13 Cardiff City v Doncaster Rovers Crowd Away Support


Tuesday Dec 16 Live ITV 8pm League Cup 5th Rd Cardiff City v Chelsea Crowd Away Support 3,000


Sat Dec 20 Lincoln City v Cardiff City

Fri Dec 26 Cardiff City v Exeter City

Mon Dec 29 Cardiff City v Stevenage







Thur Jan 1 Wycombe Wanderers (A) - 3pm, live on Sky Sports

Sun Jan 4 Cardiff City v Wigan Athletic

Sat Jan 10 Leyton Orient v Cardiff City

Sat Jan 17 12:30pm Bradford City v Cardiff City Live Sky Tv

Sat Jan 24 12:30pm Cardiff City v Stockport County Live Sky Tv

Tue Jan 27 Barnsley (H)

Sat Jan 31 Burton Albion (A)

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BBM has promised to give the same youngster's that beat Arsenal the chance in this round as well

As it should be, Annis!

Come on the Academy look out for Troy perret!!!

BBM has promised to give the same youngster's that beat Arsenal the chance in this round as well

As it should be, Annis!

Come on the Academy look out for Troy perret!!!

Bluebirds

Can see Osho and Chamber starting this

Osho, oh God, we'll need to score five then.

BBM has promised to give the same youngster's that beat Arsenal the chance in this round as well

As I said after that game & some others wanted to field a stronger team, the youngsters got us here so why change it up. They deserve to keep playing in this cup however far we get. I'll be watching & wanting us to win as usual, but won't cry if we lose.

Looking forward to seeing mafico bossing the midfield.

Brian Barry-Murphy has turned to youth in the Vertu Trophy this term, giving Academy players valuable experience, and Tuesday night will be no different.

Dak said: “It has been a really valuable experience. For the young players it gives a taste of what First Team football looks like on a week-to-week basis.

“We want to go as far into the competition as possible. If we can get a good result against Wimbledon, it will give us lots of confidence going back into the league and give the manager problems deciding who he wants in the team.

“Now that we’re past the group stage and that it’s a must win game, it adds an extra competitive edge. So, on Tuesday night, we’ve got to make sure that we bring our best game.”

"The majority of the players who played against Arsenal (U-21s) will be in the squad but we'll also have the likes of Dakarai Mafico,
Tanatswa
Nyakuhwa and Luey Giles.

"We'll check if there's anyone else in the squad that we feel will benefit from playing in the game."
Brian Barry-Murphy

Cardiff City head coach

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Cardiff City vs. AFC Wimbledon. Tuesday, December 2nd, 2025. Kick-off: 7pm.

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General Areas open

Grandstand: Blocks 202, 203, 205, 206, 207
Wheelchair Accessible Areas: Blocks 320 & 102
Sensory Room Access: Block 301

General Adult tickets start from £14, with Seniors (60+) and 16-21 years from £12 & Juniors U16 from £7. Click here to secure your seat.

If visiting the Ticket Office before kick-off, supporters are asked to arrive as early as possible, taking possible queue times into consideration. Please note that the preferred method of payment is by card.

Ticket Office staff will be able to assist with ticket purchases for other fixtures (including our Carabao Cup match against Chelsea) until 6:30pm. After this time, only AFC Wimbledon ticket sales will be facilitated

Wimbledon have a number of injuries

Manager Johnnie Jackson’s :

“Antwoine Hackford’s injured, he’s done his hamstring in training”, explained our manager. “He's going to miss out for a couple of weeks. Delano McCoy-Splatt will also be out longer term. So we’ll be without those two.

“We can probably go and push some of the boys a little harder and will give some of the younger ones a chance.”

Tonight’s game is being shown on Sky Sports + as one of its (many) selected games!

Note the 7pm kick-off!

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BBM has promised to give the same youngster's that beat Arsenal the chance in this round as well

See that Debono, Giles or Kingdom did not play for the U21S today, so they are more than likely to be included in the squad

Cardiff City: Turner; Kingdon, Osho, Lawlor, Giles; Mafico, J. Colwill, Perrett; Ashford, Nyakuhwa, Kellyman.

Subs: Dennis, Williams, Parfitt, Apter, George, Donczew, Pearce

Trio out injured

Unfortunately, since the last round, Cody Twose, Dan Ola and Alyas Debono are all out injured.

Brian Barry-Murphy confirmed as much pre-match.

Bluebirds

Cardiff keeping possession for long periods

All Cardiff so far and it culminates in a lovely move whereby Troy Perrett is slid in on the edge of the box. He tries to turn it around the corner for Omari Kellyman, who is bursting into the box, but an outstretched Wimbledon leg stops it.

Okay that's enough passing around at the back for my blood pressure.

First shot saved by Turners legs

then a 2nd shot by Wimbledon

Okay that's enough passing around at the back for my blood pressure.

Yes after all that Wimbledon get the first proper shot

Cardiff pass pass pass but nothing at the end so far