Burnley U21s start this season’s Premier League Cup campaign with a trip to Cardiff City on Tuesday night.

Manager Andy Farrell and his players would love to produce a similar run to what they managed in this competition last season, where they bowed out at the semi-final stage.

It was Queens Park Rangers who got the better of them on that April night and, funnily enough, the R’s are also in Group F with the young Clarets and Stockport County this season.

Farrell’s side’s fixture schedule is back to its busy best, and Burnley head into this match on the back of a narrow defeat to PL2 stalwarts Southampton on Friday night.

The Saints had the better of the first half, taking a two-goal lead into the interval thanks to strikes from Moses Sesay and Romeo Akachukwu.

Burnley rallied after the break, though, and got the rewards their hard work deserved two minutes from time when Brandon Pouani scored his first competitive U21s goal.

The winger, who turns 18 later this calendar year, met fellow second-year scholar Albert Blackie’s perfect cross and volleyed the ball into the bottom left corner.

It wasn’t enough to bring a point back to Lancashire, though, so Burnley will be eager to earn a positive result when they cross the Welsh border this week.

Opponents Cardiff are a category two academy, meaning they compete in the Professional Development League.

The Bluebirds have started their season well and sit 4th in the 20-team standings thanks to three wins and two draws from their six outings.

They were 2-0 victors at Watford’s Vicarage Road stadium on Friday afternoon, with Troy Perrett and Jake Davies both on target in the second half.

Burnley travelled to the Cardiff City Stadium on the final day of the regular 2024/25 season and put in a dominant performance to win 4-1.

The Welsh outfit took an early lead on the day, but goals from Kamarni Ryan, Tommy McDermott, Tom Tweedy and Benji Wetshi blew them away in the end.

Tuesday’s match is at a different venue in the Cardiff International Sports Campus on Leckwith Road (CF11 8AZ).

Kick-off is 7pm and any supporters in the area are welcome to get behind Farrell’s side in person. Entry is free and can be gained on the day.

Alternatively, you can follow live updates on X @ClaretsAcademy and Instagram @Burnleyfcacademyofficial and read our match report on www.burnleyfootballclub.com after the final whistle