The Bluebirds marked a second successive league victory with a convincing win over Mansfield Town on Saturday afternoon.
Brian Barry-Murphy made five changes to the side that defeated Northampton Town last weekend, with Perry Ng, Dylan Lawlor, David Turnbull, Cian Ashford and Callum Robinson coming into the starting XI.
City started the match strongly, with several early chances falling to Yousef Salech. His first attempt was headed into the grasp of Liam Roberts in the Mansfield goal, followed by a looping header after connecting with Ryan Wintle’s over-the-top through ball. However, he steered the ball just wide of the target.
Turnbull then went close, as he struck a powerful free-kick goalwards, which Roberts palmed into a crowd of bodies, but the visitors reacted the fastest to clear the ball away. Salech then had another opportunity as Wintle’s pinpoint cross found the striker, but he could only guide his header into the side netting.
The Bluebirds continued to dominate, and Turnbull decided to try his luck from distance, as he forced a diving fingertip save from Roberts. From the resulting corner, City found their deserved opener. Joel Bagan’s corner was met by the head of Will Fish, who nodded the ball into the back of the net at the visitors' near post.
Mansfield’s first chance of the game came just after the break, when Deji Oshilaja curled the ball towards the far corner. However, Nathan Trott was equal to the defender’s strike. The visitors then went close again, as Aaron Lewis’ corner found Frazer Blake-Tracy, who flicked the ball into the path of Will Evans. He couldn’t adjust himself in time, with his effort flying wide of the goal.
Despite Mansfield’s pressure in the second half, City doubled their lead with 20 minutes to go. Lawlor’s perfectly weighted through ball found substitute Ronan Kpakio, whose first-time cross was turned home by the head of Salech.
From the restart, City almost made it three. A mistake by Roberts in the Mansfield goal gifted Salech the chance to grab his second. However, the Mansfield keeper recovered and denied the forward, who looked destined to score.
The hosts quickly regained control and created numerous chances to grab a third. Bagan’s corner found Lawlor at the back post, whose powerful header was turned behind by Roberts. Moments later, Bagan produced another pinpoint cross into the box, this time finding Salech, but again he was denied by the keeper.
City made sure of the game with three minutes to go. Substitute Alex Robertson slipped Cian Ashford through, who saw his first effort saved by Roberts, but the young Welshman followed in the rebound to make sure of the three points.
The Bluebirds return to action next Tuesday at 7pm, when we face AFC Wimbledon for our Vertu Trophy Round of 32 tie at Cardiff City Stadium.
FINAL SCORE: CARDIFF CITY 3-0 MANSFIELD TOWN
Cardiff City: Trott, Ng (Kpakio 62’), Fish, Lawlor, Bagan, Wintle, Turnbull (Robertson 80’), Robinson (Willock 62’), Ashford, Davies (J.Colwill 62’), Salech (Kellyman 90’). Subs Not Used: Osho, Chambers.
Mansfield Town: Roberts, Knoyle (Bowery 13’), Hewitt (Akins 67’), Oshilaja, Blake-Tracy, McLaughlin (Cargill 46’), Reed (Dwyer 75’), McDonnell, Lewis, Moriah-Welsh, Evans (McAdam 75’). Subs Not Used: Mason, Goodman.