CardiffCardiff Cityvs.New SaintsThe New Saints

Erol Bulut's side have already commenced preparations for the 2023-24 campaign, seeing off Pen-y-Bont 2-0 on Saturday in their inaugural warm-up game.

Match preview

Slowly but surely dropping down the Championship standings since returning to the second tier from the Premier League in 2019, Cardiff went from playoff hopefuls under Neil Harris and Mick McCarthy to relegation dog fighters during Sabri Lamouchi's tenure.

Neither Dean Whitehead nor Mark Hudson could propel Cardiff away from the dreaded dotted line either, while Lamouchi only just secured survival with the Bluebirds last term, leading them to a 21st-placed finish, five points better off than League One-bound Reading and Blackpool.

Ex-Fenerbahce and Gaziantep boss Bulut subsequently replaced the short-serving Lamouchi, and the Turk's reign began positively on Saturday, as goals from Mark McGuinness and Ollie Tanner either side of the break sealed a two-goal win over Pen-y-Bont.

While Bulut unsurprisingly issued a rallying cry to his players over the demands of pre-season training, he emphasised the need for "fun" with a young squad, who will also pit their wits against Cambridge United, Wycombe Wanderers, Bristol Rovers and Porto in July.

A Welsh League Cup first-round tie with Cambrian & Clydach Vale - which will be Bulut's maiden competitive game in charge - is also on the agenda for the Bluebirds this month, before a baptism of fire in the shape of Leeds United awaits at the start of the 2023-24 Championship season.

Meanwhile, The New Saints' spate of dominance in the Cymru Premier is showing no signs of ending anytime soon, as this week's visitors to the Cardiff City Stadium were crowned champions of Wales for the 15th time in the 2022-23 season.

Gleaning 83 points from their 32 fixtures and losing only once, The Saints finished a whopping 21 points clear of closest challengers Connah's Quay Nomads, while they hit Bala Town for six without reply in the Welsh Cup final to complete an eighth domestic double.

With the curtain coming down on the Welsh football season in April, Craig Harrison's side began their pre-season preparations in June, thumping Crusaders 4-1 away from home before being put to the sword 2-0 by Linfield only a day later.

That loss marked a first defeat in any competition for The New Saints since a 3-2 beating at the hands of Cardiff Metropolitan University in February, and the visitors will also meet Macclesfield on July 8 before squaring off against Swedish powerhouses BK Hacken in their Champions League first-round qualifying tie.

Cardiff City friendly form:

W

The New Saints friendly form:

Team News

Cardiff midfielder Ebou Adams was given the green light to play in the second half of their win over The New Saints after returning from Gambia duty, but Romaine Sawyers and Callum O'Dowda were both spared.

Striker Callum Robinson lasted just over half an hour on Saturday, having struggled with a severe hamstring injury towards the back end of last season, and Bulut made no fewer than 10 changes at half time against Pen-y-Bont, with Robinson's replacement Rubin Colwill the only player to keep his spot.

Max Watters and Andy Rinomhota were among those to be introduced for the second half at the weekend, and Bulut should no doubt consider several alterations from the first whistle this time around.

Meanwhile, The New Saints are also sure to make full use of their squad for Tuesday's game, having made a full 11 changes for the final 30 minutes of their recent loss to Linfield.

The Welsh champions have dipped into the English market to sign goalkeeper Reece Thompson and winger Rory Holden from Shrewsbury Town and Port Vale respectively, while also poaching Daniel Williams from Swansea City's academy.

On the back of a stellar 33-goal season for The New Saints in 2022-23, Scottish striker Declan McManus ought to spearhead the charge for Harrison's team.

Cardiff City possible starting lineup:

Alnwick; Ng, Romeo, McGuinness, Bagan; Adams, King, Rinomhota; Tanner, Watters, Colwill

The New Saints possible starting lineup:

Roberts; Davies, Astles, Hudson, Pask, Marriott; Clark, D. Williams, Canavan; Roscrow, McManus

We say: Cardiff City 3-1 The New Saints

Even with Bulut continuing to offer minutes to every player in his squad, Cardiff will enter Tuesday's game as the firm favourites to make it two wins from two in their summer preparations.

The McManus-inspired visitors can no doubt trouble the Bluebirds' backline as they aim to build momentum for their continental affair, but we are struggling to envisage anything other than a convincing Cardiff success.

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