Cardiff City

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Cardiff City will host League Two Cheltenham Town in round two of the Carabao Cup, with the tie to be played in the week beginning Monday, 25 August.

Cardiff overcame another fourth-tier side, Swindon Town, on Tuesday thanks to goals from Cian Ashford and Rubin Colwill.

Brian Barry-Murphy's team will now face the Robins, who are managed by former Newport boss Michael Flynn, after they beat League One side Exeter City on Wednesday.

The tie could see Cardiff youngster Joel Colwill face one of his former clubs, having enjoyed an impressive loan spell at Cheltenham in the first half of last season.

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Brian Barry-Murphy says Cardiff City's win over Swindon Town in the EFL Cup was "very important" as his side continue to impress in the early stages of the manager's tenure.

Goals from Welsh duo Cian Ashford and Rubin Colwill earned the Bluebirds a 2-1 victory over Ian Holloway's side in the Welsh capital as Cardiff progressed into the second round of the competition.

"I'm really pleased. It means a lot to me to get through to the next round and see who we could possibly take on," Barry-Murphy said.

"To win tonight was very important and we treated the game very seriously. I thought that reflected in our performance, so I was happy."

Barry-Murphy kept faith with six players from the side that started the drab 0-0 draw with Port Vale five days earlier.

And the Irishman says his unbeaten side can continue to improve as his players have more time to adapt to his methods.

"We're in the very early stages of working together. We've only trained for 25 days so that's a very small period of time in terms of trying to build something together," added Barry-Murphy.

"The players who came in came in based on how well they've trained and how they've been to starting the other games.

"We felt it was as competitive as the team at Port Vale, and luckily for us the performance, luckily for us, was better than Port Vale.

"I'm aware of so much more that we need to do as we move forward, but if we have that patience and understanding of where the players are at, I think we'll be fine."

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After an opening day win at home to Peterborough United and a draw at Port Vale, BBC Sport Wales asked Cardiff City fans for their views on the start to the League One season.

Marcus: "I predicted City would finish 9th this season and after 2 games with sides likely to finish in the bottom half, nothing changes my view. The squad is light, we need a left back, [Jesper] Dalaand should go, a new centre back and [Chris] Willock should go. A winger is needed and another forward if [Callum] Robinson goes. I'm all for us playing local lads but this team isn't good enough to compete at the top. If [Vincent] Tan doesn't sell soon it will be another failed season."

Jon: "Although Alan Hansen was proved wrong in his statement that you 'won't win anything with kids', I do think we need some experienced players at left back right, back, creative midfielder and a striker. 46 games is a long time for these academy players and we need a bigger squad with more depth in my opinion. A couple of injuries or suspensions in key areas and we are in trouble. That said, great to see our talented kids coming through to the first team!"

Ross: "Reality has set in after a great start against Peterborough, the defence still needs work and reinforcements as it's deficiencies that got us here in the first place."

Gary: "No outfield incomers. Very poor at Port Vale. Already guilty of unnecessary team changes, not likely to stimulate player confidence, especially goalkeepers. Will likely end the season above mid-table."

Alex: "We look like a mid-table side, which is as expected. Can't understand why we brought in another goalkeeper on loan. Makes you question the manager's judgment."

Steve: "We have the right manager for this club. We don't need signings, just belief. In recent years we have invested in young talent only to find they are blocked from the team by panic buys and overrated, over the hill players. This year feels different."

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It is now 13 years since Cardiff City came close to pulling off one of the great League Cup shocks when they made it all the way to the final before losing out to Liverpool in a penalty shootout.

A Bluebirds side featuring the likes Peter Whittingham, Kevin McNaughton and Aron Gunnarsson – plus goalscorers Joe Mason and Ben Turner – pushed Steven Gerrard, Luis Suarez and Co all the way before being beaten in agonising fashion at Wembley.

Cardiff begin this year's crack at what is now the Carabao Cup when they host League Two Swindon Town on Tuesday (19:45 BST).

Brian Barry-Murphy's team will be keen to continue their unbeaten start to the season, even if there will be no great expectation regarding a cup run in a campaign where efforts will be focused on a potential promotion push.

In truth, Cardiff have not had a great deal to shout about in the League Cup since that memorable run to the final, having made it beyond the second round on just three occasions since.

In 2023-24, they overcame Colchester and Birmingham before being well beaten at Blackburn.

That was the first time Cardiff had reached the third round since 2014-15, when they saw off Coventry and Port Vale before being well beaten by Bournemouth.

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Cardiff's one other visit to the third round since Wembley was in 2013-14, when the then Premier League club were knocked out at West Ham having overcome Accrington Stanley after entering at the second-round stage.

Cardiff's uninspiring record over the past 13 years has included several disappointing losses, including two round-one defeats to Northampton Town and a first-round exit at the hands of Bristol Rovers in 2016-17.

Last year, Erol Bulut's team got past Rovers before being outplayed by Southampton in round two.

The hope will be that after an encouraging opening-day win over Peterborough and last Thursday's draw at Port Vale, Cardiff can maintain momentum by getting the better of Ian Holloway's Swindon side.

"There was too much goalmouth action for my liking and we didn't have enough control," Barry-Murphy said in the wake of the trip to Vale Park, where Cardiff were fortunate to avoid defeat.

"That's great for us because it gives us a lot of areas to improve through the season."

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Cardiff City are unbeaten after their opening two League One games, but there have been mixed emotions among Bluebirds fans given the contrasting nature of performances.

The opening-day win over Peterborough United was exhilirating and encouraging in equal measure, with a youthful Cardiff side coming back from behind thanks to two brilliant goals from academy graduates Rubin Colwill and Ronan Kpakio.

It was the youngest side for a Bluebirds league game this century, performances from other youngsters like midfielder Joel Colwill and goalkeeper Matt Turner providing hope that the club's future is safe in the hands of a new generation.

But then came Port Vale. Something of a reality check for the fans and new boss Brian Barry-Murphy as Cardiff were outplayed in a goalless draw at Vale Park, struggling to create clear-cut opportunities and overhitting several crosses into the box. They were lucky to come away with a point, frankly.

No-one said it was going to be easy trying to get straight back up to the Championship.

But automatic promotion is clearly the aim - Barry-Murphy has said as much himself - and Cardiff are hoping to add to their squad before the transfer window closes at the end of August.

So how do you feel after the opening two matches? Who has impressed you? Where do they still need to strengthen? Let us know your views by clicking here.

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Cardiff City head coach Brian Barry-Murphy has explained that he substituted young centre-back Dylan Lawlor at Port Vale on Thursday to guard against a potential injury.

Lawlor, 19, was replaced by Will Fish in the 61st minute of the goalless League One draw.

Whereas Lawlor was substituted during the opening win over Peterborough United last Saturday to avoid him getting a second yellow card, his withdrawal at Vale Park was fitness-related.

"He had a tight hamstring at half-time and I was a little bit concerned. I saw him stretching early in the second half," Barry-Murphy told BBC Radio Wales.

"We're at that stage in the season where there can be a risk based on how much fitness we got into them [during pre-season] and that was a risk I didn't want to take."

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Cardiff City's opening English Football League (EFL) Trophy fixture of the 2025-26 season against Exeter City at St James Park will take place on Tuesday, 16 September (19:30 BST).

The Bluebirds have also confirmed they will host Newport County in their second group-stage match of the competition at 19:45 BST on Tuesday, 7 October.

Details for the club's final group fixture with Arsenal Under-21s will be announced in the coming weeks.

The top two teams in each group will progress into the knockout stages - with fixtures remaining regionalised until the quarter-finals.

The final will be held at Wembley on Sunday, 12 April 2026.

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Ryotaro Tsunoda has left Cardiff City to join former club Yokohama F. Marinos back in his native Japan for an undisclosed fee, having never played for the Bluebirds in a competitive game.

The 26-year-old defender joined Cardiff in January 2024 but immediately joined Belgian side KV Kortrijk on loan for the remainder of the campaign.

However, he suffered a serious hamstring injury the following April that required surgery.

Cardiff City owner Vincent Tan is also majority shareholder at the Pro-League side, who Tsunoda rejoined on loan in January 2025 for the remainder of last season while the Bluebirds unsuccessfully battled relegation to League One.

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Cardiff City's winning start to life in League One not only laid down a marker – it was also a milestone.

The Bluebirds' win over Peterborough underlined that there will be a freshness about things at Cardiff City Stadium under new head coach Brian Barry-Murphy.

In their first outing since relegation from the Championship, the 2-1 victory showcased a new playing style to go with their promotion ambitions.

It also suggested the new man at the helm will place his faith in youth with the starting XI's average age at just 22, ten of the matchday squad academy graduates - and two from the same family.

It was the first time Rubin and Joel Colwill started a league game for Cardiff together – and the first time two brothers began a game for the Bluebirds in more than 40 years.

While they had previously appeared together for a few minutes off the bench in a defeat to Rotherham in 2024, as well as bench outings in EFL Cup games, you have to go back to 1983 and the presence of Gary and Dave Bennett (pictured below) for the last time siblings kicked off a league game for Cardiff.

In what could be seen as a good omen for supporters, that was in a season where the club gained promotion from the third tier having been relegated the season before.

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The first brothers to play for Cardiff were George and John who featured together between 1911 and 1915, with captain John the first Cardiff player to score in a south Wales derby.

Included in Wales defender Ron Stitfall's 453 appearances for the club were a handful of games with brother and fellow defender Albert, but goalkeeping brother Bob never made it onto the field at the same time.

Similarly, while Paul and David Giles racked up close to 150 games between them in the late-70s and 1980s, their times at their hometown club never overlapped.

But the most iconic example is the period between 1963 and 1965 where Welsh football's legendary brothers – Mel and John Charles – were both Bluebirds.

The pair, though, never managed to play for Wales together during their time at Ninian Park – something for nine-cap Rubin Colwill and Under-21 international Joel to aim for now they've set a club milestone as Bluebird brothers.

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Cardiff City are aiming to make four signings before the transfer window closes, with a move for Copenhagen goalkeeper Nathan Trott seemingly close.

The Bluebirds are yet to sign anyone this summer but are reportedly lining up the 26-year-old former England Under-20 international, who started his career at West Ham.

Chairman Mehmet Dalman appeared to confirm that move was imminent when he was asked about the club's transfer dealings.

"We've got a goalkeeper coming in. And we are looking to add another three players in this window," said Dalman.

"I can't speak for Brian [Barry-Murphy, head coach], but I think he wanted to have a really good look at what he's got before he made any decisions. I think he has a pretty good idea of what he wants.

"He is really excited by what he's got here already. Genuinely excited about it."

Asked how close those signings were to being completed, Dalman added: "One is very close, but we have a problem in getting it over the line, which can be solved.

"So we want to buy a goalkeeper and one other, then the other two will probably be loans.

"We don't really need that many new players. I think the squad is pretty good."

Following their relegation from the Championship last season, Cardiff started life in League One - and Barry-Murphy's tenure - with a 2-1 win over Peterborough United on Saturday.

Speaking after the game, the new head coach said he hoped to have a signing completed before Thursday's trip to Port Vale.

"Well, I said that definitely before this [Peterborough] game, so I was held to certain things about the previous press conference," he said.

"I'm just a little bit nervous about saying definitely before Thursday... but I would say definitely before Thursday."

Cardiff have seen 11 senior players leave this summer but have managed to hold on to first-teamers such as Yousef Salech and Callum Robinson.

Asked about their prospects of holding on to the attacking duo, Dalman simply said: "They're not going anywhere."

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New head coach Brian Barry-Murphy praised Cardiff City's young players as they helped him win his first game in charge against Peterborough United.

Relegated from the Championship last season, the Bluebirds started life in League One with a 2-1 victory at Cardiff City Stadium on Saturday.

Barry-Murphy picked the youngest Cardiff team for a league fixture this century, handing first starts to the likes of goalkeeper Matt Turner – chosen in front of senior players Jak Alnwick and Ethan Horvath – and midfielder Joel Colwill.

Both goals were scored by academy graduates, Rubin Colwill and Ronan Kpakio.

"To have some of the academy graduates is really beneficial because they feel the club in a way that's different from what I do, based on where I come from, so it's really powerful," said Barry-Murphy.

"Matt Turner wasn't complicated [as a selection]. I had an idea of certain players before I came to the club. I didn't know a lot about Matt but, since day one pre-season, he's been exceptional.

"His attitude, in terms of what we asked him to do, his commitment and his skill level as a goalkeeper has been outstanding. Just based on what I saw, he was the clear pick.

"Joel, we have a lot of competition in that position, but again, his appetite to do the things we've asked him to do and his relentless nature of application was evident."

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Having fallen behind against the run of play, Cardiff responded well in the second half as Rubin Colwill – captaining the club for the first time – scored a brilliant free-kick.

Kpakio, an 18-year-old right-back, then curled in a fine first-time effort to put Cardiff in front.

"It was a great goal. His talent is obvious," said Barry-Murphy.

"I think where he ended up on the pitch for the goal [inside the penalty area] is important for me.

"He's a really attacking full-back who can be really dynamic and can cause the opposition a lot of problems.

"So to see him arrive in that position in the second half was what I wanted to see. He has that quality to produce assists and goals."