CITY BEGIN VERTU TROPHY CAMPAIGN

ccfcinsider
Sep 15, 2025
2 min read

Cardiff City remain on the road as they begin their Vertu Trophy campaign against Exeter City.

The Opposition:

Exeter recorded their lowest finish in the league table since their promotion in the 21/22 season, with a 16th place finish for The Grecians.

The Grecians saw a fair few players depart over the summer, seeing key players like Demetri Mitchell and Caleb Watts depart on free transfers. Gary Caldwell and Exeter were active in the window, adding Jayden Wareham from Reading, Joe Whitworth from Crystal Palace, Jack Bycroft from Swindon Town, Danny Andrew from Stockport County, Luca Woodhouse from Wycombe Wanderers, Jake Doyle-Hayes from Sligo Rovers, Johnly Yfeko from Rangers, Carlos Mendes Gomes from Bolton Wanderers, Akeel Higgins from Aston Villa, Sil Swinkels from Aston Villa, Ryan Rydel from Stockport County and Ethan Brierley from Brentford.

Caldwell favours a back-three system, with disciplined defensive organisation and wingbacks providing width. His style blends measured build-up and width with pragmatism, adapting formations to suit players and opposition. He emphasises mentality, work rate, and resilience, aiming to instil belief and toughness in his squads.

The Bluebirds:

City come into this one on the back of a dramatic draw against Stockport County. Ollie Norwood dispatched a first-half penalty, before Yousef Salech nodded in an equaliser in the final seconds of the game.

City's style could pull Caldwell’s compact 3-5-2 out of shape by overloading wide areas and rotating midfielders to stretch the back three. Cardiff’s calm build-up and central line-breaking passes would limit Caldwell’s transitions and exploit gaps between midfield and defence.

Opposition Player to Watch:

Back for a second loan spell at The Grecians, Whitworth has certainly caught the eye at Exeter, with many touting the 21 year-old for big things. Joe Whitworth is an agile goalkeeper with sharp reflexes, solid shot-stopping, and reliable handling for his age.

Whitworth is a product of the Crystal Palace Academy. The goalkeeper made his Eagles debut in the M23 Derby against Brighton. Whitworth was loaned out to Exeter last season, keeping sixteen clean sheets in all competitions, the 21 year-old has returned for a second stint, and has kept two clean sheets in nine outings.

Last Meeting:

Exeter City 0-3 Cardiff City (2002)