The Bluebirds finished the 2023/24 Sky Bet Championship campaign with a 5–2 defeat to Rotherham United on Saturday afternoon.
Despite Nat Phillips and Ollie Tanner getting on the scoresheet for City, the hosts claimed all three points.
Erol Bulut made one change to the side that faced Middlesbrough last time out, with Ryan Wintle coming into the starting XI. Mark McGuinness and Callum O’Dowda returned from injury and were included on the bench, while U18 midfielder Dakarai Mafico was named in a First Team squad for the first time.
In a competitive start, winger Cian Ashford found space on the left for City and delivered a dangerous cross into the area, only for former Bluebird Dillon Phillips to claim. Midfielder David Turnbull was then picked out on the edge of the area and looked to curl towards the top corner, but had his effort blocked.
With 25 minutes on the clock, the hosts took the lead against the run of play through Jordan Hugill, who finished from close-range. City reacted well to falling behind, as Tanner found Famara Diédhiou, who turned well in the area, before having his shot blocked by former Bluebirds defender Lee Peltier.
Searching for an equaliser, Bulut’s men looked dangerous in attack, as Turnbull set Tanner free on the left, who picked out Josh Bowler. The winger’s first-time effort was well-held by Phillips. The Bluebirds were rewarded for the positive reaction, finding a leveller in the 38th minute, as Phillips was unmarked in the area to head home from Tanner’s pinpoint cross.
Just before the break, City went close to taking the lead with two chances. Firstly, Turnbull’s corner dropped to Bowler, whose powerful effort was tipped over by Phillips. Just a minute later, Ashford was found on the edge of the area, but fired inches wide. At the other end, the Millers regained their lead through Tom Eaves, who struck home from inside the area.
The Bluebirds made a brilliant start to the second half, equalising in the 47th minute. A swift counter orchestrated by Bowler led to Ashford finding Tanner in the box, whose first-time finish found the bottom corner. After a spell of pressure for City, the hosts regained the advantage at the other end, as Eaves netted from the penalty spot.
Having been introduced on the hour-mark, Raheem Conte almost made an instant impact, as he cut inside, before firing into the side-netting. The hosts were clinical when opportunities arose, extending their lead in the 64th minute through Sam Nombe, who curled into the net.
Millers striker Hugill then found space in the area to find the net in the 69th minute to ensure victory for the home side.
FINAL SCORE: ROTHERHAM UNITED 5–2 CARDIFF CITY
Rotherham United: Phillips (Johansson 90+1'), Bramall, Eaves, Hugill, Rathbone, Peltier (Hall 75’), Odoffin, Humphreys, Revan (Ferguson 90+1'), Nombe (Hatton 90+1'), Appiah (Seriki 75’).
Cardiff City: Horvath, Romeo (Conte 59’), Goutas, Phillips (McGuinness 89'), Tanner (O’Dowda 75’), Wintle (C), Siopis (J Colwill 84'), Turnbull (R Colwill 75’), Bowler, Ashford, Diédhiou. Subs not used: Turner, Sawyers, Mafico, Antwi.