Kadeem Harris Denied Cardiff City Debut

Cardiff City recorded a 2-0 win at home to Derby County this week, taking a huge stride towards qualification for the play-offs. With City far from our best, it was a case of grinding out the result and with 10 minutes to go - Malky Mackay made a defensive minded substitution by bringing on Welsh defender Darcy Blake on for attacker Joe Mason.

It was a move some felt should have been made a couple of weeks ago when Watford cancelled out a 1-0 lead after putting pressure on a creaking defence. Coventry too scored a last gasp equaliser at CCS and those late points dropped have been important this season.

However, in bringing Blake on - Mackay was denying City fans a first glimpse of exciting prospect Kadeem Harris who has been called up to the bench in recent weeks after fellow winger Craig Conway's season was ended by injury. Harris joined in January but has yet to make his debut, despite City lacking the pace and natural width he could offer.

Normally, leading 2-0 at home would be a perfect time to blood a new youngster and with plenty of space available as Derby tired and tried to push forward, Harris would have likely had some joy.

In the end, Mackay probably did the right thing in bringing Blake on to shore up any cracks. It shows the pressure given this late stage of the season, but that pressure is only likely to increase into the play-offs. If Harris is going to make any appearance this season, he will surely be given a debut in one of the two remaining games rather than in the high profile and nervy play-offs.

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