Cardiff City advanced to the second round of the Carabao Cup with a 2-1 win against Swindon Town at Cardiff City Stadium.
Brian Barry-Murphy elected to make five changes to the side that played Port Vale, with Will Fish, David Turnbull, Cian Ashford, Isaak Davies and Callum Robinson all coming into the starting XI.
City dominated possession and the early chances in the first half, with Davies having an effort blocked after drifting in from the left wing, as well as Ryan Wintle’s long-ranged effort drifting wide.
The Bluebirds opened the scoring in the 21st minute following Davies' corner, which was swung into the area and met by the head of Joel Bagan, forcing a save from Connor Ripley, but Ashford was on-hand to tap in from close-range.
The visitors came close to levelling shortly after via Princewill Ehibhatiomhan, who did well to create space but dragged his shot wide of the post. At the other end, City continued to create chances, coming close to doubling the lead. A chance came from another corner, this time finding Calum Chambers, who leaped high but his header fell inches past the post.
Minutes before the break, Ashford came even closer by striking an effort off the post following some excellent hold up in the box play by Robinson. But it was Rubin Colwill who doubled City’s lead, with another spectacular free-kick straight into the top corner, leaving the 'keeper no chance.
After the break, Swindon Town halved the deficit through Ehibhatiomhan, who skipped past his defender and slotted into the net. Following a chance from Billy Bodin, the Bluebirds responded well through a flurry of opportunities looking to restore the two-goal lead. David Turnbull forced the substitute keeper Lewis Ward into a low save, which was pushed behind for another City corner.
Next it was Chambers' turn to go again close, denied by a goal line clearance from James Bell after meeting a Chris Willock corner. Substitute Yousef Salech also tested Ward in goal after leaving his defender stranded.
After securing a place in the next round, next up for City is a return to League One action, hosting Rotherham United on Saturday, August 16th, with a kick-off time of 3pm.
FINAL SCORE: CARDIFF CITY 2-1 SWINDON TOWN
Cardiff City: Trott, Kpakio, Fish, Chambers ©, Bagan, Wintle, Turnbull (King 90’), R. Colwill (J. Colwill 87’), Ashford (Tanner, 87’), Davies (Willock 68’), Robinson (Salech 68’). Subs Not Used: Turner, Lawlor, Mafico, Nyakuhwa.
Swindon Town: Ripley (Ward 50’), Mabete, Wright © (Clarke 45’), Ball, Glatzel, Smith, Wilson-Brown (Munroe 45’), Kilkenny, Princewill (Tabor 77’), Bodin (Oldaker 45’), McGregor. Subs Not Used: Nichols, Butterworth, Snowdon, Drinan.