By Chris O'Brien
November 27 2004

Reserves, but a South Wales derby defeat all the same. The Jacks left Ninian Park with a 1-0 victory thanks to a second-half strike from Mark Pritchard, in a game Andy Campbell and Rhys Weston both started.

With the senior team struggling, the Cardiff City reserve team lost their fourth game in six against arch-rivals Swansea City. A strong Bluebirds side went down 1-0 against the Jacks, down a man after the dismissal of Guy, although Peter Thorne and Richard Langley were deemed not fit enough to make a comeback appearance.

All eyes were on Andy Campbell and Rhys Weston from the handful of Bluebirds supported who turn out to watch the second-string. However, bar a positive 20-minute spell from Millennium Stadium hero Campbell he was largely anonymous whilst Weston looks a shadow of on-loan Darren Williams, and surely would be out on loan if Gary Croft was not suffering injury.

City started brightly as they looked for an early goal. Pint-size forward Danny Thomas sent an effort onto the crossbar whilst Cameron Jerome saw a header saved by Brian Murphy, one of the only recognisable names on the Jacks team-sheet. The Bluebirds attacked in numbers, but Swansea soon settled and ended the first-half stronger. However, the visitors had Guy dismissed before the interval for a challenge on Kirk Huggins, though City didn't take advantage of the extra man.

Paul Wilkinson must have told his team victory was in the bag, as City were very lacklustre throughout the second period. Lacking creation and ideas. With the first-team in disarray, the reserve players should be knocking on Lennie Lawrence's door but few did themselves favours with this poor performance. 10-man Swansea found the net mid-way through the second period, as Pritchard sent a neat lob over reserve-team debutant Craig Attard.

Full Time - City Reserves 0-1 Jacks Reserves