Match Report | Cardiff City 5-0 Plymouth Argyle
A relentless Cardiff City overcame Plymouth Argyle in emphatic style on Saturday afternoon.
Omer Riza made two changes to the team which drew against Bristol City last time out, as David Turnbull and Callum O’Dowda replaced Joe Ralls and Joel Bagan in the starting lineup.
After a cagey opening, the first opportunity of the match fell to the visitors, as Morgan Whittaker played in Michael Obafemi, who failed to finish from close range.
City’s first meaningful attack was put together by Rubin Colwill, who spun his man and slid the ball through for Anwar El Ghazi, whose shot was blocked.
Swiftly after this in the sixteenth minute, the Bluebirds took the lead. Colwill, once again at the centre of City’s creativity, set it back for Alex Robertson who curled the ball audaciously into the far corner from distance, to open his account in the Sky Bet Championship for the hosts.
Following the goal, City continued to attack with confidence, as Ollie Tanner and Colwill found joy running the channels, with Tanner testing Daniel Grimshaw.
Moments later, City’s pressure was rewarded as the lead was doubled after 23 minutes. Plymouth failed to clear Callum O’Dowda’s cross and the ball fell for Colwill, who cut inside and finished with his left foot into the side netting, to add to his earlier assist.
As the half drew to a close, the situation went from bad to worse for the Pilgrims as Ibrahim Cissoko was sent off for an altercation involving Perry Ng.
The whistle blew with City two goals and a player to the good.
City did not have to wait long to further extend their lead, as Anwar El Ghazi made it 3-0. As they had throughout the first half, City worked it well down the right hand side. Tanner played in Colwill, who turned his man and squared it for El Ghazi who tapped in his first goal of the season to give the Bluebirds three.
Minutes later David Turnbull saw his deflected cross strike the woodwork, with City showing no signs of letting up.
In a half which continued to be one way traffic, City earned a fourth goal in the 75th minute of proceedings. Substitute Chris Willock collected the ball in the middle of the park and switched it to Callum Robinson, who drove at his man, cut in, and finished perfectly into the far corner to make it four for Cardiff City.
Five minutes later the Bluebirds had their fifth of the afternoon. Following a corner, the ball fell for Chris Willock who sent it bouncing on the volley and into the back of the net, leaving Grimshaw with no chance.
Moments later it took a wonder save from Grimshaw to deny City a sixth, as he acrobatically tipped Robinson’s shot over.
The final whistle signalled the ending to a thrilling performance at Cardiff City Stadium by the Bluebirds, who had scored five goals with a clean sheet to accompany the feat.
FULL TIME: CARDIFF CITY 5-0 PLYMOUTH ARGYLE
Cardiff City: Alnwick, Goutas, O’Dowda (Bagan 76’), Chambers, Turnbull (Rinomhota 66’), Robertson, El Ghazi (Kanga 76’), Colwill (Willock 66’), Tanner (Méïté 72’), Ng, Robinson. Subs not used: Horvath, Fish, Daland, Collins.
Plymouth Argyle: Grimshaw, Mumba, Szűcs, Cissoko, Edwards ©, Whittaker (Wright 72’), Obafemi (Hardie 62’), Gibson, Gyabi (Issaka 62’), Randell (Forshaw 72’), Al Haij (Houghton 45’). Subs not used: Ogbeta, Gray, Marosi, Palsson.