Cardiff City under-23s played host to their Barnsley counterparts on Tuesday afternoon. A goal in the first half from Jack Leahy and one just minutes from time from James Collins earned the young Bluebirds a comfortable 2-0 win at Cardiff City Stadium.
There were impressive performances all over the pitch. Curtis Nelson, in truth, looked really assured as he bids to play his way back into first-team contention, while James Collins got some much-needed minutes, and an important goal, under his belt.
Steve Morison will no doubt have an eye on these young players as he plans ahead of next season. At some point he will have to use some youngsters to see if they can cut it at Championship level, you can read more about that here. Perhaps one or two stood out to him in the win over Barnsley on Tuesday? Who knows. But we were there and these were the three who impressed us during the Professional Development League 2 clash...
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Jack Leahy
A player whose reputation has grown steadily since he was signed on a free transfer from Brighton last summer.
It was the first time this reporter has seen him play in person and he looks a classy operator, it must be said. While his frame is slight, Leahy's technical ability was on show in buckets at Cardiff City Stadium.
He has a neatness about the way he controls the ball, something which you would expect having been schooled in the Brighton academy, but also looks as though he has an eye for goal.
The way he took his goal against the Tykes was superb. He picked up the ball 20 yards from goal and still with a lot of work to do. The 19-year-old knocked it past his marker before rifling his effort low into the bottom corner, leaving the opposition goalkeeper helpless. It's his third goal in 11 games for the young Bluebirds this term.
He also set up a golden opportunity for James Crole and showed his ability to play that playmaker role. Early in the second half, he intercepted a pass inside his own half before producing an incisive through ball to present Crole with a one-v-one opportunity, which the goalkeeper did well to save.
On this showing alone, it is easy to see just why Cardiff were keen to tie him down to a new deal, with Leahy having signed an extension until the end of next season. One to keep an eye on over the coming weeks and months to see if he has any involvement in the first team.
“It was good game from the team," Leahy said after the match. "The first half wasn’t as good as the second, personally it wasn’t my best performance but there were two moments of quality with the goal and the assist, so I'm happy with the win, and we'll see what happens in the next few games."
Oliver Denham
A name which is becoming increasingly familiar with City fans thanks to his outing at Liverpool and frequent appearances on the first-team bench. Playing alongside Curtis Nelson, who looked particularly strong, Denham operated in the middle of a back three and looked assured throughout.
Last-ditch tackles, well-timed headers, interceptions and even stepping out with the ball to mount attacks, Denham put in an impressive performance at the heart of the defence. It's a position he is likely targeting given the man who currently occupies that spot in the first team, Aden Flint, is heading out of contract in the coming months.
He will like to be stronger in his duels, one suspects, but his reading of the game is spot-on. In the empty Cardiff City Stadium, you could also hear how loud he was when he barked orders at the wing-backs or the midfielders in front of him. His commanding presence was felt even more when Nelson was taken off on he hour, making him the de facto senior centre back.
Manager Darren Purse said after the match: “I'm delighted with a clean sheet. I thought defensively we were pretty sound. When you’ve got Curtis Nelson, Ollie Denham, who’ve had first team experience, and Dillon [Phillips] in your back lines you’ve got a chance of winning the game and keeping a clean sheet. From that point of view, I’m pleased.
Ibrahim Bakare
As Purse alluded to, Cardiff's defence was the strongest part of their game against Barnsley and Ibrahim Bakare certainly played his part in that.
He has an imposing frame, the centre back, but can be nimble enough on his feet to cover the ground well and make timely tackles and interceptions.
If Cardiff want to play out from the back more, which is what Purse's side tried to do, then the 19-year-old will have to improve that area of his game. But his athleticism and willingness to throw his body in the way of any Barnsley attack was admirable.
He has been a regular fixture in this under-23s side this season but has largely gone under the radar due to playing alongside the ever-impressive Denham or, earlier in the season, James Connolly, but he was a rock against Barnsley and helped the overall defensive effort, which reduced Barnsley largely to shots from range.
Indeed, Leahy applauded Bakare's performance with his Twitter post after the match, writing: "My brother @bakare_5, massive display from you today!"
