Forest Green 1 - 1 Cardiff City

Last updated : 16 July 2015 By Michael Morris

C:WindowsTempphpAD37.tmpMany of City's first team squad saw some action at The New Lawn as Cardiff drew 1 - 1 with Forest Green.

After a goalless first half Joe Mason gave Cardiff the lead ten minutes into the second period.

City could have doubled the lead but Peter Whittingham saw his penalty kick saved by Jonny Maxted.

It was a costly miss as four minutes later Aaron O'Connor headed the home side level.

City played different teams in each half with a welcome return to action for Kagisho Dikgacoi. The former Crystal Palace midfielder missed just about all of last season, his first at City.

Sammy Ameobi, David Marshall, Aron Gunnarsson, Scott Malone and Stuart O'Keefe all missed out last night but are set to feature on Saturday against Shrewsbury.

Ben Turner has unfortunately suffered an ankle injury and will miss the start of the season.

Russell Slade hopes that Dikgacoi will be fully fit to start the season.

“We believe he will be fit and ready for the start of our league season.

“There is a lot more work ahead for him but he is making good progress,” Slade added.

“This was his first 45 minutes in a long time and he came through well. We hope he will be extremely close to being able to play in our first Championship fixture."

The boss expanded on the current injuries in the squad

“Ben has had a minor operation and he'll be out for a few weeks,” said Slade, who also has Adedeji Oshilaja and Matt Connolly having treatment.

“Deji came off because he was a little sore while Connolly suffered a dead leg,” added the City manager. 

Forest Green Rovers First Half XI: J Maxted, A Baldwin, J Jennings, D Jones, A Racine, S Wedgbury, C Kamdjo, C Moore, E Frear, D Sam-Yorke, J Parkin. Second Half XI: J Maxted, D Pipe, D Bennett, M Kelly, K Guthrie, K Marsh-Brown, R Sinclair, D Jones, L McGrory, A O'Connor, T Bender

Cardiff City First Half XI: Moore, Peltier, Morrison, Connolly, John, Ralls, Dikgacoi, Pilkington, Kennedy, Revell, Macheda. Second Half XI:Wilson, Fabio, Ecuele Manga, Ajayi, Oshilaja, Noone, Whittingham, Southam, Ralls, Doyle, Mason.