FA YOUTH CUP | BLUEBIRDS FIRE FOUR PAST BRISTOL CITY

Goals from Jamie Bird, Ibi So Sani and a brace from Lloyd Humphries ensured a place in the Fourth Round where they will face either Liverpool or Ipswich. This result was even sweeter for U18 Coach Matthew Bloxham who celebrated the birth of his first child less than 24 hours earlier.

Inside three minutes, Cardiff had an appeal for a penalty turned down as Jamie Bird weaved his way into the Bristol area only to be bought down, but the referee waved away the appeals. In another chance seconds’ later winger Mark Harris burst into the area and fired at goal but ‘keeper Tyler Edmunds was equal to it as the away side started brightly.

In the first chance for the hosts, George Kellow cut inside and fired a low shot straight at Luke Wakeman in the visitors’ goal. It was the travelling Bluebirds who were deservedly celebrating first as playmaker Bird fired in a 25-yard strike to the bottom left-hand corner. Aidan Chappell-Smith was next to try his luck from distance but his low shot whistled past the post - City's U18 side looking to make an early statement in this Severnside clash.

The next chance came just past the half hour mark and went the way of Matthew Bloxham and Jarred Harvey's men, Lloyd Humphries’ shot from inside the area was blocked after good work down the left.

Bluebirds midfielder Jarrad Welch then went close after he robbed the Robins' left back but his shot was saved by Edmunds.

The visitors were creating chances at will and the next one fell to number nine Ibi So Sani, the forward blasting his shot over the bar. Chappell-Smith had another try from long-range but Edmunds denied the side from Wales a second goal.

Edmunds was proving the only thorn in the young Bluebirds' side as he twice denied the pacey Harris from close range just before the break. It proved the last action of a half dominated by the future City stars.

Straight after the restart, the Bluebirds made it two from a counter attack as Lloyd Humphries curled home from 20 yards after Harris had won the ball off Bristol right-back Opanin Edwards.

Centre-back Shane Parry then went close from a Humphries corner but his volley was headed off the line. From the resulting, corner Parry's header bounced off the ground and onto the crossbar.

Front man So Sani then had a good opportunity to make it three as he wriggled past the last defender but his shot saved again by the in-form Edmunds.

Midfield man Humphries got his second and Cardiff’s third in the 76th minute when he clinically smashed home from six yards out following a City corner which fell to him.

Humphries was involved again as the away side added a fourth following an excellent team move. They shifted the ball from right to left and the double goal-scorer squared it for So Sani who slotted in.

Six minutes from time the lively Harris went close to adding a fifth, firing over from the corner of the area.

That brought the end to a fantastic display by the young Bluebirds who will find out their opponents on Wednesday night for the next round, set to be played in January.

Bristol City: Edmunds, Edwards (Nurse ’56), Parsons, Harris, Moss, Harper, Dowling, Morton, Richards (Difford ’50), Andrews, Kellow (Spalding ’66). Subs not used: Reeves, McNulty.

Cardiff City: Wakeman, Abbruzzese (Kelly ’89), Coxe, Parry, R.Menayese, Welch (Waite ’82), Humphries, Bird, Harris, So Sani (E.Menayese ’82), Chappell-Smith. Subs not used: Coughlan, Young, Kelly.