Cardiff City returned to winning ways with a comprehensive victory at St James Park on Saturday afternoon.
Brian Barry-Murphy named three changes to the side that started against Barnsley during the week, with Joel Bagan, Gabriel Osho and Cian Ashford stepping into the starting XI at St James Park.
City had their first big chance of the afternoon in the opening ten minutes, when Perry Ng’s headed effort from a corner-kick crashed off the crossbar.
Rising to meet the rebound, Omari Kellyman saw his own subsequent effort cleared off the line by Danny Andrew.
Ollie Tanner saw heavy involvement throughout these opening passages of play, linking up well with Rubin Colwill to deliver crosses into the area and winning a number of early corner-kicks.
Rubin very nearly set up an early opener on the quarter hour mark as he cut back beautifully to find Ashford on the penalty spot, but the onrushing forward couldn’t line up his effort.
The Bluebirds took the lead just past the half hour mark, as Colwill and Tanner’s joint efforts paid dividends. Rubin received a well-placed pass from Ollie, before picking out the top corner from inside the area to the delight of the travelling City supporters at the other end of the ground.
Moments later, City had their second. Running onto a delightful ball down the left from Osho, Ashford drove into the area at the goal line and chipped a cross towards an unmarked Rubin, who obliged his teammate with a powerful low header to double the lead.
Following the break, City continued their dominance on the ball and were rewarded for their efforts with a third goal that proved the best of the lot.
The Bluebirds secured an unassailable lead thanks to Alex Robertson, who was presented with a shooting opportunity 20 yards out and made no mistake as he curled into the top right corner.
City continued their assault as changes came in from both sides, with Ashford again involved as he drove into the box with the ball at his feet before sending a powerful shot just over the crossbar.
Five minutes from time substitute Sonny Cox was denied the instant impact he wanted as his strike flew off the crossbar, with the visitors’ resuming control of play thereafter.
Fresh off the bench, Callum Robinson added a fourth late on, finishing at the back post from a Chris Willock cross that was helped along by the heel of Joel Colwill, who had replaced his brother earlier on.
Having been relentless in attack and resolute at the back all afternoon, City took all three points as they bounced back in the best possible way on the road.
FINAL SCORE: EXETER CITY 0-4 CARDIFF CITY
Cardiff City: Trott, Bagan (Scanlon 89’), Osho, Lawlor, Ng, Wintle, Robertson (Turnbull 71’), R. Colwill (J. Colwill 75’), Tanner (Willock 71’), Ashford, Kellyman (Robinson 75’). Subs: Fish, Scanlon, Chambers.