Cardiff City began their EFL Trophy campaign with a hard-earned 1–0 victory away to Exeter City, courtesy of a second-half header from Callum Robinson.
In a tightly contested match, Robinson’s goal in the 55th minute proved decisive, as the Bluebirds held firm despite a late red card to Cian Ashford. The win places Cardiff at the top of Southern Group A.
Darren Purse, Cardiff City U21s coach, praised his side’s resilience:
“It was a great test for the boys. Exeter are a strong side, and we knew we’d have to dig deep. I’m proud of how we defended, especially after going down to ten men.”
He also highlighted Robinson’s leadership:
“Callum showed his experience and quality with that header. He led by example tonight.”
Exeter City manager Gary Caldwell expressed disappointment at the result but remained positive about his team’s performance:
“I thought we were the better team for large spells. We created enough chances to win the game, but we lacked that final bit of quality in front of goal. The lads gave everything, and I can’t fault their effort.”
The match saw over 2,000 fans in attendance and featured a mix of senior and academy talent from both sides. Cardiff will look to build on this result in their next group fixture, while Exeter aim to bounce back.
