2020–21 Cardiff City F.C. season explained

The 2020–21 season was the 122nd season in existence of Cardiff City Football Club. In addition to the Championship, Cardiff City participated in that season's editions of the FA Cup, the Welsh League Cup, and participated in the EFL Cup.

First-team squad

No.	Name	Nat.	Position(s)	Date of birth (Age)	Apps.	Goals	Year signed	Signed from	Transfer fee	Ends
Goalkeepers
1	Dillon Phillips		GK	2021 6, df=yes	17	0	2020	Charlton Athletic	Undisclosed	2023
12	Alex Smithies		GK	2021 6, df=yes	69	0	2018	Queens Park Rangers	£4,000,000	2022
Defenders
2	Jordi Osei-Tutu		RB/RW	2021 6, df=yes	9	0	2020	Arsenal	Loan	2021
3	Joe Bennett		LB	2021 6, df=yes	178	5	2016	Aston Villa	Free	2021
4	Sean Morrison		CB	2021 6, df=yes	276	30	2014	Reading	£3,180,000	2022
5	Aden Flint		CB	2021 6, df=yes	52	6	2019	Middlesbrough	£4,000,000	2022
16	Curtis Nelson		CB	2021 6, df=yes	82	3	2019	Oxford United	Free	2023
22	Sol Bamba		CB	2021 6, df=yes	118	10	2016	Free Agent	Free	2021
30	Ciaron Brown		CB	2021 6, df=yes	13	0	2018	Wealdstone	Trainee	2021
32	Joel Bagan		LB	2021 6, df=yes	9	0	2020	Academy	Trainee	2023
38	Perry Ng		RB/LB/CB	2021 6, df=yes	19	0	2021	Crewe Alexandra	£350,000	2024
Midfielders
6	Will Vaulks		DM	2021 6, df=yes	77	9	2019	Rotherham United	£2,100,000	2022
7	Leandro Bacuna		CM/RB	2021 6, df=yes	100	3	2019	Aston Villa	£4,000,000	2023
8	Joe Ralls		CM/LM	2021 6, df=yes	279	31	2011	Academy	Trainee	2022
11	Josh Murphy		LW/RW/SS	2021 6, df=yes	97	13	2018	Norwich City	£11,000,000	2022
15	Jonny Williams		AM/CM/LM	2021 6, df=yes	9	0	2021	Charlton Athletic	Undisclosed	2021
21	Marlon Pack		CM/DM	2021 6, df=yes	83	4	2019	Bristol City	Undisclosed	2022
23	Harry Wilson		RW/LW/AM	2021 6, df=yes	38	7	2020	Liverpool	Loan	2021
27	Sheyi Ojo		RW/LW/AM	2021 6, df=yes	41	5	2020	Liverpool	Loan	2021
28	Tom Sang		AM/RW/RB	2021 6, df=yes	11	0	2020	Manchester United	Free	2023
33	Junior Hoilett		LW/RW/AM	2021 6, df=yes	184	25	2016	Free Agent	Free	2021
34	Tavio Kouakou D'Almeida		CM	2021 6, df=yes	0	0	2019	Auxerre	Free	2021
40	Rubin Colwill		AM/CM	2021 6, df=yes	6	0	2020	Academy	Trainee	2023
Forwards
10	Kieffer Moore		CF	2021 6, df=yes	42	20	2020	Wigan Athletic	£2,000,000	2023
14	Isaac Vassell		CF	2021 6, df=yes	3	1	2019	Birmingham City	Undisclosed	2022
17	Lee Tomlin		SS	2021 6, df=yes	57	11	2017	Bristol City	£2,900,000	2022
19	Max Watters		CF	2021 6, df=yes	3	0	2021	Crawley Town	Undisclosed	2024
29	Mark Harris		CF/LW/RW	2021 6, df=yes	19	3	2017	Academy	Trainee	2023
39	Isaak Davies		CF	2021 6, df=yes	0	0	2020	Academy	Trainee	2023
Out on Loan
9	Robert Glatzel		CF	2021 6, df=yes	58	11	2019	1. FC Heidenheim	£5,500,000	2022
20	Gavin Whyte		RW	2021 6, df=yes	37	1	2019	Oxford United	£2,000,000	2023
25	Joe Day		GK	2021 6, df=yes	2	0	2019	Newport County	Free	2021

Statistics

Players with names in italics and marked * were on loan from another club for the whole of their season with Cardiff City.|-|colspan=14|Players out on loan:|-|colspan=14|Players who left the club:|}

Goals record

width=50px	Rank !	width=50px	No. !	width=50px	Nat. !	width=50px	Po. !	width=150px	Name !	width=150px	Championship !	width=150px	FA Cup !	width=150px	League Cup !	width=150px	Total
1	10		CF	Kieffer Moore	20	0	0	20
2	23		RW		7	0	0	7
3	4		CB		5	0	0	5
	6		DM	Will Vaulks	5	0	0	5
	8		CM	Joe Ralls	5	0	0	5
	27		RW	Sheyi Ojo	5	0	0	5
7	9		CF	Robert Glatzel	3	0	0	3
	29		CF		3	0	0	3
9	7		CM	Leandro Bacuna	2	0	0	2
	11		LW	Josh Murphy	2	0	0	2
	21		CM	Marlon Pack	2	0	0	2
	33		LW	Junior Hoilett	2	0	0	2
12	3		LB	Joe Bennet	1	0	0	1
	5		CB	Aden Flint	1	0	0	1
	16		CB	Curtis Nelson	1	0	0	1
	17		SS	Lee Tomlin	1	0	0	1
Own Goals					1	0	0	1
Total					66	0	0	66

Assists record

width=50px	Rank !	width=50px	No. !	width=50px	Nat. !	width=50px	Po. !	width=150px	Name !	width=150px	Championship !	width=150px	FA Cup !	width=150px	League Cup !	width=150px	Total
1	23		RW		11	0	0	11
2	27		RW	Sheyi Ojo	7	0	0	7
4	11		LW	Josh Murphy	5	0	0	5
5	8		CM	Joe Ralls	4	0	0	4
6	38		RB	Perry Ng	3	0	0	3
7	3		LB	Joe Bennett	2	0	0	2
	4		CB		2	0	0	2
	6		DM	Will Vaulks	2	0	0	2
	21		CM	Marlon Pack	2	0	0	2
	33		LW	Junior Hoilett	2	0	0	2
11	5		CB	Aden Flint	1	0	0	1
	7		CM	Leandro Bacuna	1	0	0	1
	9		CF	Robert Glatzel	1	0	0	1
	10		CF	Kieffer Moore	1	0	0	1
	29		CF		1	0	0	1
Total					45	0	0	45

Disciplinary record

Rank	No.	Nat.	Po.	Name	Championship		League Cup	Total
1	7		CM	Leandro Bacuna	8	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	9	0	0
2	4		CB	Sean Morrison	8	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	8	0	0
3	6		DM	Will Vaulks	6	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	6	0	1
	8		CM	Joe Ralls	5	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	1	0
5	3		LB	Joe Bennett	6	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6	0	0
	16		CB	Curtis Nelson	6	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6	0	0
	21		CM	Marlon Pack	4	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	1	0
8	27		RW	Sheyi Ojo	5	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	0	0
9	5		CB	Aden Flint	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	0	0
	10		CF	Kieffer Moore	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	0	0
	30		CB	Ciaron Brown	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	0	0
	38		RB	Perry Ng	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	0	0
13	11		LW	Josh Murphy	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0
	17		SS	Lee Tomlin	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	0
	23		RW		3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	0	0
	28		AM	Tom Sang	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	2	0	0
	33		LW	Junior Hoilett	2	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	3	0	0
17	1		GK	Dillon Phillips	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0
	15		AM	Jonny Williams	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0
	18		LB	Greg Cunningham	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0
Total					71	3	1	0	0	0	3	0	0	74	3	1

Clean sheets

Includes all competitive matches. The list is sorted by squad number when total clean sheets are equal. Numbers in parentheses represent games where both goalkeepers participated and both kept a clean sheet; the number in parentheses is awarded to the goalkeeper who was substituted on, whilst a full clean sheet is awarded to the goalkeeper who was on the field at the start of play.

Rank			Name	Matches played	Championship	FA Cup	EFL Cup	Total
1	12			32	8	0	0	8
2	1			17	7	0	0	7

Contracts

Date	Position	Nationality	Name	Status	Contract Length	Expiry Date	Ref.
13 August 2020	LW		Mark Harris	Signed	1 Year	June 2021	[3]
13 August 2020				Signed	1 Year	June 2021
7 September 2020				Extended	2 years	June 2023	[4]
5 November 2020				Signed	2 years	June 2023	[5]
15 February 2021				Signed	2 years	June 2023	[6]
15 February 2021			Isaak Davies	Signed	2 years	June 2023
17 March 2021			Kieron Evans	Signed	2 years	June 2023	[7]
17 March 2021			Keenan Patten	Extended	1 year	June 2022
12 April 2021				Signed	2 Years	June 2023	[8]
19 May 2021				Signed	2 Years	June 2023	[9]
16 June 2021			Cian Ashford	Signed	3 years	June 2024	[10]

Transfers

Transfers in

Date from	Position	Nationality	Name	From	Fee	Ref.
13 August 2020					Undisclosed	[11]
4 September 2020					Free transfer	[12]
4 September 2020			Chanka Zimba		Free transfer	[13]
21 September 2020			Camron McWilliams		Free transfer	[14]
21 September 2020			Rolan Idowu		Free transfer
16 October 2020					Undisclosed	[15]
16 January 2021					Undisclosed	[16]
19 January 2021					£350,000	[17]
1 February 2021					Undisclosed	[18]
17 March 2021					Free

Loans in

Date from	Position	Nationality	Name	From	Date until	Ref.
25 August 2020					End of season	[19]
7 September 2020					End of season	[20]
16 October 2020					6 January 2021	[21] [22]
16 October 2020					End of season	[23]

Loans out

Date from	Position	Nationality	Name	To	Date until	Ref.
21 July 2020					29 January 2021	[24] [25]
1 August 2020					October 2020	[26]
10 August 2020			Danny Williams		End of season	[27] [28]
16 September 2020			James Waite		End of season	[29]
22 September 2020					4 January 2021	[30]
16 October 2020					4 January 2021	[31] [32]
4 January 2021					End of season	[33]
14 January 2021					End of season	[34]
28 January 2021					6 February 2021	[35]
1 February 2021					End of Season	[36]

Transfers out

Date from	Position	Nationality	Name	To	Fee	Ref.
1 July 2020					Released	[37]
1 July 2020				Unattached	Released	[38]
1 July 2020					Released	[39]
1 July 2020					Released	[40]
1 July 2020			Lloyd Humphries		Released	[41]
1 July 2020			Shamar Moore	Unattached	Released
1 July 2020			Harry Pinchard	Unattached	Released
1 July 2020					Released	[42]
1 July 2020					Released
1 July 2020				Unattached	Released
1 July 2020					Free transfer	[43]
17 August 2020					Free transfer	[44]
9 September 2020					Contract Termination	[45] [46]
11 September 2020					Undisclosed	[47]
30 September 2020					Undisclosed	[48]
6 February 2021					Undisclosed	[49]

Competitions

EFL Championship

See main article: 2020–21 EFL Championship.

Matches

The 2020–21 season fixtures were released on 21 August.^[50]

FA Cup

See main article: 2020–21 FA Cup.

The third round draw was made on 30 November, with Premier League and EFL Championship clubs all entering the competition.^[51]

EFL Cup

See main article: 2020–21 EFL Cup.

The first round draw was made on 18 August, live on Sky Sports, by Paul Merson.^[52]

Welsh League Cup

Cardiff entered the Welsh League Cup for the first time in the club's history in the 2020–21 season.^[53]

Summary

Games played	49 (46 EFL Championship, 1 FA Cup, 1 League Cup, 1 Welsh League Cup)
Games won	19 (18 EFL Championship, 0 FA Cup, 0 League Cup, 1 Welsh League Cup)
Games drawn	14 (14 EFL Championship, 0 FA Cup, 0 League Cup)
Games lost	16 (14 EFL Championship, 1 FA Cup, 1 League Cup)
Goals scored	68 (66 EFL Championship, 0 FA Cup, 0 League Cup, 2 Welsh League Cup)
Goals conceded	53 (49 EFL Championship, 1 FA Cup, 3 League Cup)
Goal difference	15
Clean sheets	15 (14 EFL Championship, 0 FA Cup, 0 League Cup, 1 Welsh League Cup)
Yellow cards	75 (70 EFL Championship, 0 FA Cup, 3 League Cup, 2 Welsh League Cup)
Red cards	4 (4 EFL Championship, 0 FA Cup, 0 League Cup)
Worst Discipline	Leandro Bacuna (8, 0, 0)
Best result	4–0 vs. Luton Town (28 Nov 20) 4–0 vs. Preston North End (20 Feb 21) 4–0 vs. Derby County (2 Mar 21) 4–0 vs. Birmingham City (1 May 21)
Worst result	0–5 vs. Sheffield Wednesday (8 Apr 21)
Most appearances	Curtis Nelson (46 starts, 0 subs)
Top scorer	Kieffer Moore (20)
Most Clean Sheets	Dillon Phillips (7) Alex Smithies (7)
Points	68

Club staff

Backroom staff

Position	Name
Manager	Mick McCarthy
Assistant manager	Terry Connor
First-team coach	James Rowberry
Goalkeeper coach	Andy Dibble
Head of medical services	Matthew May
Club doctor	Dr. Len Nokes
First-team physiotherapist	James Rowland
Head of Fitness & Conditioning	Lee Southernwood
Senior Strength & Conditioning	Mike Beere
Sports scientist	Ben Parry
Head scout	Glyn Chamberlain
First Team Analyst	Jack Radusin
Player Liaison Officer	Jack Osmond-Smith
Kit and Equipment Manager	Paul Carter

Board of directors

Position	Name
Chairman	Mehmet Dalman
General Manager	Ken Choo
Finance Director	Philip Jenkins
Non-Executive Board Members Football Club[54]	Steve Borley (since 1998) Derek Chee Seng Chin (since 2010) Veh Ken Choo (since 2016) Mehmet Dalman (since 2012) Marco Ronaldo Mario Caramella (since 2017)[55]
Non-Executive Board Members Cardiff City (Holdings)[56]	Danni Rais (since 2012)
Club Secretary	Michelle McDonald

Notes and References

1. News: Cardiff sack manager Harris . BBC Sport . 21 January 2021 . 21 January 2021.
2. Web site: Mick McCarthy appointed First Team Manager . Cardiff City FC . 23 January 2021.
3. News: Mark Harris & Tom Sang sign new deals . Cardiff City F.C. . 13 August 2020 . 13 August 2020.
4. News: Curtis Nelson signs new City deal . Cardiff City F.C. . 7 September 2020 . 7 September 2020.
5. News: Joel Bagan signs new Cardiff City deal . Cardiff City F.C. . 5 November 2020 . 27 February 2021.
6. News: Rubin Colwill & Isaak Davies sign new City deals . Cardiff City F.C. . 15 February 2021 . 27 February 2021.
7. News: Evans and Patten extend deals; Bakare signs . Cardiff City . 17 March 2021 . 17 March 2021.
8. News: Tom Sang: Cardiff City wing-back signs new contract until 2023 . BBC Sport . 12 April 2021 . 12 April 2021.
9. News: Mark Harris signs new Cardiff City contract . Cardiff City Official Site . 19 May 2021 . 19 May 2021.
10. News: Cian Ashford agrees first professional contract . Cardiff City Official Site . 16 June 2021 . 23 June 2021.
11. News: Cardiff City confirm capture of Wales striker Kieffer Moore from Wigan Athletic . 13 August 2020 . . 13 August 2020.
12. News: Man Utd starlet signs for Cardiff City after impressive trial spell . 4 September 2020 . Wales Online . 4 September 2020.
13. News: Academy Two new recruits for City's U23s . Cardiff City F.C. . 4 September 2020.
14. News: Cardiff City Academy on Twitter . Cardiff City F.C. . 21 September 2020.
15. Web site: Dillon Phillips makes permanent transfer to Cardiff City . Charlton Athletic FC . 16 October 2020.
16. Web site: Watters Departs For Cardiff . Crawley Town FC . 16 January 2021.
17. Web site: Done Deal Perry Ng signs for City! . Cardiff City FC . 19 January 2021.
18. Web site: Jonny Williams joins Cardiff City on permanent deal . Charlton Athletic - Official Site . 1 February 2021.
19. News: Cardiff sign Arsenal's Osei-Tutu on loan . 25 August 2020 . . 25 August 2020.
20. News: Sheyi Ojo joins joins from Liverpool . 7 September 2020 . . 7 September 2020.
21. Web site: Filip Benković links up with the Bluebirds . Cardiff City F.C. . 16 October 2020 . 17 October 2020.
22. Web site: Filip Benkovic: Leicester City recall Croatia centre-back from Cardiff loan . BBC Sport . 6 January 2021 . 6 January 2021.
23. Web site: Harry Wilson joins Cardiff City on loan . 16 October 2020 . Liverpool FC . 16 October 2020.
24. News: Livingston sign defender Ciaron Brown on loan from Cardiff City . BBC Sport . 21 July 2020 . 21 July 2020.
25. News: Ciaron Brown returns to Cardiff City . Livingston F.C. . 29 January 2021 . 30 January 2021.
26. News: Burke & Bolger Loan Deals . Shamrock Rovers F.C. . 1 August 2020 . 2 August 2020.
27. News: Welcome back Danny . Havefordwest County AFC . 10 August 2020 . 11 August 2020.
28. Web site: Danny Williams Loan Extended . Haverfordwest County AFC - Official Site . 1 February 2021.
29. News: Waite Returns On Loan . . 16 September 2020 . 16 September 2020.
30. News: Loan Tom Sang joins Cheltenham Town . Cardiff City F.C. . 22 September 2020 . 22 September 2020.
31. News: Loan Flint joins Sheffield Wednesday . Cardiff City F.C. . 16 October 2020 . 16 October 2020.
32. News: Aden Flint: Defender returns to Cardiff as Sheffield Wednesday loan is cut short . BBC Sport . 4 January 2021 . 4 January 2021.
33. Web site: Day Arrives on Loan . Bristol Rovers FC . 4 January 2021 . 4 January 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210104173058/https://www.bristolrovers.co.uk/news/2021/january/joe-day-signs/ . dead .
34. Web site: Gavin Whyte Arrives On Loan . Hull City AFC . 14 January 2021.
35. News: Greg Cunningham: Preston North End re-sign defender on loan from Cardiff City . 28 January 2021 . BBC Sport . 28 January 2021.
36. Web site: Loan: Robert Glatzel joins 1. FSV Mainz 05. Cardiff City FC. 1 February 2021. 1 February 2021.
37. Web site: Charlton Athletic sign former Cardiff, Grimsby and Wigan striker . 9 October 2020 . London News Online . 9 October 2020.
38. News: Departing professionals . 4 September 2020 . . 24 June 2020.
39. News: Moors land ex-Cardiff City defender . 4 September 2020 . . 3 August 2020 . 7 August 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200807131143/https://www.solihullmoorsfc.co.uk/news/moors-land-excardiff-city-defender-2555229.html . dead .
40. News: Penybont swoop for Welsh duo Connor Davies and Lewis Clutton . 4 September 2020 . . 28 August 2020.
41. News: Humphries Returns To The Seagulls . 4 September 2020 . . 3 September 2020.
42. Web site: Pryce signs for the Town . Bala Town FC . 16 October 2020.
43. News: Buckeyes Sign Wootton for 2020 . 4 September 2020 . . 7 May 2020.
44. News: Danny Ward: Huddersfield re-sign striker after Cardiff departure . BBC Sport . 17 August 2020 . 17 August 2020.
45. News: Club Statement Nathaniel Mendez-Laing . Cardiff City F.C. . 9 September 2020 . 9 September 2020.
46. Web site: Middlesbrough complete Nathaniel Mendez-Laing signing . February 2021 . The Northern Echo . 2 February 2021.
47. News: Ethridge departs to Birmingham City. Cardiff City F.C. . 11 September 2020 . 11 September 2020.
48. News: Owls sign Callum Paterson . Cardiff City F.C. . 30 September 2020.
49. Web site: Greg Cunningham And Ched Evans Sign Permanent Deals . Preston North End - Official Site . 7 February 2021.
50. News: Sky Bet Championship fixtures 2020/21 . 21 August 2020 . . 21 August 2020.
51. Web site: Premier League and Championship clubs join Emirates FA Cup After third round Draw . The Football Association . 10 December 2020.
52. News: Carabao Cup Round One draw confirmed . 18 August 2020 . . 18 August 2020.
53. Web site: Nathaniel MG Cup Fixture Confirmation . Cardiff City F.C. . 6 December 2020.
54. Web site: Football Club Directors. 30 November 2020.
55. Web site: Cardiff City appoint Datuk Marco Ronaldo Mario Caramella as a Non-Executive Director. Wales Online. 19 February 2018. 30 November 2020.
56. Web site: Holding Company Directors. 17 December 2017.