Cardiff City 3-0 Rotherham United: Bluebirds breeze past Millers in dominant home win
The Bluebirds took the lead just before the break with a Yousef Salech header, before really taking the game by the scruff of the neck after half time.
A lovely Cian Ashford goal and a tap-in finish from captain Rubin Colwill put City in cruise control as they penned the Millers in their own half. Join the Cardiff City breaking news and top stories WhatsApp community.
The progress under Brian Barry-Murphy continues at a pace, with both ends of the pitch looking far more assured than in their last league game at Port Vale. The atmosphere was rocking and it's pleasing to see smiles on faces at Cardiff City Stadium once again.
The first half was comfortable for City, who dominated possession and looked by far the most likely to break the deadlock, without creating too many clear-cut chances.
With an average age of 22 yet again, one could be forgiven for thinking this was going to be a physical battle for City against the imposing Rotherham side. But Dylan Lawlor in particular, up against former Bluebird Jordan Hugill, more than held his own.
Debutant Dakarai Mafico had a more difficult time, however, and was run ragged at left-back. He was booked for a clumsy challenge on Ar'jany Martha and was fortunate to escape a second yellow moments later, forcing Barry-Murphy to hook him just after the half-hour mark. Callum Robinson and Barry-Murphy himself embraced the teenager as the crowd burst into applause for him after what was a difficult first league outing.
But Mafico's struggles aside, Cardiff looked solid and in control. David Turnbull fizzed a first-time effort inches wide from one corner, while he turned provider from his own set-piece delivery just before the break.
The Scot whipped in a deadly cross and Salech rose above his marker, Reece James, before directing a well-struck header into the bottom corner to get him up and running for the campaign.
City dominated the second half and it was no surprise to seem them add goals to their tally, with the visitors offering very little.
Ashford's goal really was a thing of beauty. He played a delightful one-two with David Turnbull on the edge of the area before curling a beautiful, first-time effort beyond Cameron Dawson and into the far corner.
But the Bluebirds weren't done yet. Colwill had threatened the goal once or twice, but he won't have scored an easier one in a City shirt when the chance was presented to him just after the hour.
Ashford pounced on a poor pass from Zak Jules and quickly fed Salech in the area. The striker put a peach of a low cross across the face of goal and the skipper was on hand to poke home into an empty net from a couple of yards out.
Job done, as far as City were concerned. A near-perfect day out in the sunshine. Sign up to our daily Cardiff City newsletter here.
Cardiff City XI: Trott; Kpakio (Chambers 88), Fish, Lawlor, Mafico (Bagan 36); Wintle, Turnbull, R. Colwill (J. Colwill 81); Tanner, Salech (Robinson 81), Ashford (Davies 81).
Subs: Turner, Willock.
Rotherham United XI: Dawson; Hall, Jules, Raggett; Kelly (Holmes 60); Agbaire (Kaleta 46), Gore, Yearwood (Clarke 75), James; Hugill, Martha (McGuckin 75).
Subs: Cann, Rafferty, Richardson.
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