The Development Squad suffered a 2-0 defeat to Cardiff City on Monday night at the Cardiff City Stadium.

Goals from Fillip Kiss and Etien Velikonja in the first-half helped were enough for the Bluebirds as the Bees brave second-half performance went unrewarded. 

The Bees started the game well with their five-man midfield, led by Anthony Edgar, frustrating the home side for much of the first-half.

Kadeem Harris was first to test Sam Cowler in the Bees’ goal but the keeper was equal to it stretching to make a great save before denying Velikonja with the follow up.

Despite this seemingly assured performance Cardiff took the lead after 37 minutes when Slovakian Under-21 international Kiss headed home Joe Ralls’ free-kick.

A second sucker punch came shortly after when Velikonja finished off a fine move to double the home side’s lead seconds before the break. 

The Bees responded well in the second-half and had it not been for an impressive display from Cardiff keeper Joe Lewis they could have taken something from the game.

Their best chance came when substitute George Sykes sent a bullet header towards goal only to be denied by the fingertips of Lewis who seemed determined to keep a clean sheet.

Next up for the Bees in the Barclays Under-21 Development League Two South is a home tie against Brentford on Tuesday 22 January.

Development Squad: Cowler, Hackett, Brown, Abdulla, Bran, McCluskey, Allen, Warren, Holwun, Edgar, Gambin.

Subs: Barnes, Lowe, Sykes, Thomas, Ibrahim.