Hibernian v. Cardiff City - Match Preview
Hibees v. City
By Chris O'Brien
July 23 2004
The Bluebirds will look to put the disappointing start to the pre-season campaign against Chester City behind them as they travel north of the border to face Hibernian at Easter Road. Richard Langley and Tony Vidmar have joined up with the squad as City travel to the Scottish capital.
Cardiff City will look to put the disappointment of Tuesday's 2-0 pre-season defeat to Chester City as they visit Easter Road for an interesting trip against Scottish Premier League outfit Hibernian. The Bluebirds were outplayed at the Deva Stadium earlier in the week, and Lennie Lawrence will undoubtedly be looking for an improved performance as his side visit Edinburgh.
Hibernian disappointed last season by only finishing 8th in Scotland's top flight, but have ambitions for a better finish this time around. Manager Tony Mowbray has brought in a number of players over the summer and also has several players on trial, and many of the new faces will be on show when the Bluebirds play in the Scottish capital.
Mowbray, who once played under City boss Lennie Lawrence, will use the game to give a debut to new goalkeeper Simon Brown. Trialist David Murray, currently contracted with Middlesbrough, is likely to start the game as he looks to impress the home crowd and Guillame Beuzelin, another new signing, will be in action for Hibernian.
Saturday's game is Hibs' first friendly on home turf, but they will be going for their third consecutive pre-season win after narrow victories over Berwick Rangers and Cowdenbeath. The club have also taken part in the Intertoto Cup this season, but like fellow British entrant Aberystwyth Town, they fell at the first hurdle with a 2-1 aggregate defeat at the hands of FK Vetra. Games against Forfar Athletic, Edinburgh City and Leeds United will follow their game against the Bluebirds.
Intertoto Cup duty meant Hibernian started training a couple of weeks before the Bluebirds and they have played four pre-season games to Cardiff's one, making tomorrow's task even harder for Lennie Lawrence's side. The standard of the Scottish Premier League clubs other than the Old Firm duo is often compared to the First Division, so the result from tomorrow's game will be interesting. In the build up to the 2002/2003 season, City faced Motherwell at Fir Park and were between 1-0.
Lennie Lawrence has been forced into making a couple of changes to the squad that lost in Cheshire earlier in the week. Paul Parry and John Robinson both limped off during the 2-0 defeat and will not be risked for the game, but in their places return Tony Vidmar and Richard Langley who had been left out of Tuesday's game after representing their country in international action during the summer.
As with the Chester City match, Lawrence is unlikely to make many changes during the game as he looks to find his best starting XI for the new season. The City boss will be hoping to get a long look at his three summer acquisitions, with 'keeper Tony Warner and defender Robert Page playing only 45 minutes of the Bluebirds' first friendly match.
City are expected to take a decent following to Easter Road, with the supporters clubs taking a bus up and many other fans believed to be making their own way north of the border. I have seen a City / Hibernian flag on the Bob Bank for many seasons, so that is likely to make an appearance as the Bluebirds take on the Scottish outfit. After Saturday's game, City will face West Country outfit Yeovil Town next Tuesday as preparations for the new season continue.