Match report for Cardiff City vs Livingston
Cardiff City saw out their pre-season campaign in style as they beat Livingston by four goals to nil at CCS.
City fans got the chance to see some of the club’s new faces play at home for the first time, as Neil Etheridge, Lee Tomlin and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing all started the game. There was also an old familiar back at the game as former City shot stopper Neil Alexander started in goal for the Livi.
As the game got underway, the first real chance fell to Danish forward Kenneth Zohore who lashed just wide after great play by Junior Hoilett on the left.
Cardiff continued to pile the pressure on the Lions as a brilliant run from Zohore on City’s right led to the forward crossing low into the box and finding the lively Hoilett who tapped in from close range.
A well organised City continued to create opportunities to extend the lead as Morrison headed wide from a corner and good build up play from Tomlin and Mendez-Laing resulted in missed half chances.
Hoilett's goal proved to be the difference between the two sides as the referee blew the whistle and the first half concluded.
Following a number of half-time changes, Lee Tomlin and Danny Ward produced chances before the hour mark as a curled effort went just wide and Neil Alexander produced a fine save to deny a City second.
It didn’t take too long for City to extend their lead as fantastic build up from Harris on the left set up Ward who scored at the second time of asking into the bottom right corner.
Livi did create some half-chances to pressure Warnock’s side, but City scored a third when Ward grabbed his second of the evening. The ex-Rotherham man tapped into an empty net after a brilliant low cross from Manga on the right.
City went close with a powerful free kick by Joe Bennett before Bruno Manga emphatically stretched the lead to 4-0 with a well-timed volley at the near post from a Kennedy corner.
There was a standing ovation from the home fans when Neil Alexander made way for Gary Maley - the former Bluebird duly doing the Ayatollah as he came off.
Sean Morrison and Joe Ralls were first to test the substitute 'keeper as the captain had a header cleared off the line, while Ralls had a shot go wide after great play from Joe Bennett to win back possession.
The referee then drew the game to a close as it finished with a comfortable 4-0 victory to the Bluebirds. The match provided the perfect close to preseason as Cardiff look forward to kicking off their Championship campaign next Saturday away to Burton Albion.
