Cardiff City's 21 / 22 Championship campaign begins today with the visit of Barnsley to CCS. On the day that the Welsh Government lifts most Covid restrictions CCS will welcome fans back with no limits on numbers.
The club have annoiunced a minutes silence before kick off to remember all those lost since the stadium was last occupied for a competetive match. There is also a fan led plan to applaud Peter Whittingham in the 7th minute. The former City player sadly died last year after an accident and fans have not had chance yet to celebrate his lifde and achievements.
Barnsley are expected to bring around 900 fans.
Mick McCarthy: “First day of the season I'm always excited, getting to the real cutting edge of it and real games that count.
"I don't see too much action going on in the transfer market for us [before the season starts]. We have what we have and we'll be going with pretty much what we have.
"I've got no complaints with what I've got. Two good goalkeepers, five good centre-backs and, when they're fit and firing, our wing-backs are excellent. In midfield we're covered in there and then we've got Kieffer Moore, James Collins, Josh Murphy, Ryan Giles - we're all right up the top as well.
"In terms of the squad we've got, I'm happy but we need them all fit and firing."
Markus Schopp: “We want to win every game, naturally. But the Championship is a tough league. On Saturday, Cardiff is a tough opponent, and we know their qualities and what they are all about. But we have a clear focus, we will go there full of confidence.
“They are a really clear team in terms of their identity. But it’s up to us to start the season well, with an attitude that I expect from my Barnsley team.
“I know Mick McCarthy is from Barnsley, he had a really good career as both a player and a manager but I’m looking forward to taking him on at the weekend. That is why I’m here, to test myself against the best.
“For everyone in football, England is the ‘Mecca’. To be part of this, it’s special and I want to make my own impact.”
Match facts
- Cardiff City have lost one of their last 14 league games against Barnsley (W9 D4), a 4-3 home loss in the 2016-17 campaign.
- Barnsley are set to face Cardiff in their first league match of the season for the first time since 2006-07, when they were beaten 2-1 at Oakwell.
- Cardiff have lost their opening league match of the season in each of their last three seasons, as many as in their previous 23 combined (W10 D10).
- Barnsley have lost their first league match of the season in nine of their last 13 seasons in the second tier of English football (W2 D2) and lost 1-0 to Luton Town last season.
- From Mick McCarthy’s first league game in charge of Cardiff against Barnsley in January, no Championship side lost fewer games between then and the end of the season than the Bluebirds (3, level with Barnsley and Norwich).
Match Officials:
Referee: Stephen Martin
Assistant Referees: Mark Pottage, Steven Meredith
Fourth Official: Lee Swabey