Cardiff take a battering Says:

Cardiff take a second-half battering as both clubs fielded weakened teams:


Cardiff City have been dumped out of the Carabao Cup in the third round after a chastening 5-2 battering at the hands of Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park.

By Glen Williams

F-T: 5-2

The Bluebirds managed to keep a lid on things in the first half, somehow, through goals from Callum Robinson and Kion Etete, but as the game wore on the visitors' defence simply couldn't keep up and Blackburn put them to the sword, with Andrew Moran bagging a brace.

There were debuts, for James Crole and Josh Beecher, just about the only positive of the evening, really, because after three wins a row, that heavy loss just threatens to curb City's momentum. All efforts are now on the Championship.

As expected, Erol Bulut rang the changes for the midweek clash, but it afforded some players some precious minutes. Jonathan Panzo made his first start since arriving on loan from Nottingham Forest, while Robinson returned to the starting XI, a welcome sign after the playmaker suffered an early-season back injury. Romaine Sawyers, meanwhile, took the armband.

The bench was packed with academy and under-21s players, another useful exercise for Bulut, who wants to work closer with the academy after the opening of their new academy site in Llamrumney this week.

But, perhaps predictably, the game started with a low tempo and, in truth, a real lack of quality. Cardiff, however, were the first to be undone and it was a bad one to concede from their viewpoint. Goalkeeper Leo Wahlstedt lobbed a speculative ball over the top of City's defence and Jake Garrett took a lovely touch on the edge of Cardiff's box before slotting past Alex Runarsson.

Despite a lack of coherence and rhythm, Cardiff managed to get themselves back into the game within minutes courtesy of a Robinson humdinger. Rubin Colwill showed a fleetness of foot to escape a Rovers challenge 30 yards from goal before laying it into Robinson's path. The forward, keen to show Bulut what he's been missing out on so far this season, took a touch and drilled it into the bottom corner of Rovers' net.

The visitors' defence was creaking, though. It was poor, in all honesty, and it looked a matter of time before Jon Dahl Tomasson's side took the lead again. They exposed Cardiff's frailties down their left-hand side and thanks to a Runarsson slip, Arnor Sigurdsson had an easy job to tap in when he was found with a square pass from his winger on 36 minutes.

Cardiff had no right to go into the break level, but to his credit Etete made the most of what was barely even a half chance. A cleared Cardiff free-kick fell to Romaine Sawyers, who hooked a nothing ball back into the area. Etete was strong and outmuscled his marker, spinning him in the process. In the same movement he whacked a low shot towards the bottom corner and it had beaten Wahlstedt before he could even get a dive in. It had all the hallmarks of a real cup tie.

Rovers picked up from where they left off after the break, though, so, too, did Cardiff's defending. Jonathan Panzo had a poor game and it was typified by him gifting the ball to Andrew Moran just outside the Bluebirds' penalty area and the Irishman did not waste the opportunity, sweeping home the hosts' third.

It was an onslaught after that. Ebou Adams put in a poor challenge and conceded a penalty, but Runarsson did well to tip Sigurdsson's spot-kick away for a corner. City weren't afforded any respite, though, and Moran was found from that corner before he smacked home from 25 yards to earn the home side a two-goal advantage.

There was a sense that Bulut had given up the ghost with this one and rang the changes. Beecher and Crole were introduced on the hour for their senior debuts in the hope that the Bluebirds would at least get something positive out of the game in that respect.

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Cardiff take a second-half battering as both clubs fielded weakened teams:


Cardiff City have been dumped out of the Carabao Cup in the third round after a chastening 5-2 battering at the hands of Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park.

By Glen Williams

F-T: 5-2

The Bluebirds managed to keep a lid on things in the first half, somehow, through goals from Callum Robinson and Kion Etete, but as the game wore on the visitors' defence simply couldn't keep up and Blackburn put them to the sword, with Andrew Moran bagging a brace.

There were debuts, for James Crole and Josh Beecher, just about the only positive of the evening, really, because after three wins a row, that heavy loss just threatens to curb City's momentum. All efforts are now on the Championship.

As expected, Erol Bulut rang the changes for the midweek clash, but it afforded some players some precious minutes. Jonathan Panzo made his first start since arriving on loan from Nottingham Forest, while Robinson returned to the starting XI, a welcome sign after the playmaker suffered an early-season back injury. Romaine Sawyers, meanwhile, took the armband.

The bench was packed with academy and under-21s players, another useful exercise for Bulut, who wants to work closer with the academy after the opening of their new academy site in Llamrumney this week.

But, perhaps predictably, the game started with a low tempo and, in truth, a real lack of quality. Cardiff, however, were the first to be undone and it was a bad one to concede from their viewpoint. Goalkeeper Leo Wahlstedt lobbed a speculative ball over the top of City's defence and Jake Garrett took a lovely touch on the edge of Cardiff's box before slotting past Alex Runarsson.

Despite a lack of coherence and rhythm, Cardiff managed to get themselves back into the game within minutes courtesy of a Robinson humdinger. Rubin Colwill showed a fleetness of foot to escape a Rovers challenge 30 yards from goal before laying it into Robinson's path. The forward, keen to show Bulut what he's been missing out on so far this season, took a touch and drilled it into the bottom corner of Rovers' net.

The visitors' defence was creaking, though. It was poor, in all honesty, and it looked a matter of time before Jon Dahl Tomasson's side took the lead again. They exposed Cardiff's frailties down their left-hand side and thanks to a Runarsson slip, Arnor Sigurdsson had an easy job to tap in when he was found with a square pass from his winger on 36 minutes.

Cardiff had no right to go into the break level, but to his credit Etete made the most of what was barely even a half chance. A cleared Cardiff free-kick fell to Romaine Sawyers, who hooked a nothing ball back into the area. Etete was strong and outmuscled his marker, spinning him in the process. In the same movement he whacked a low shot towards the bottom corner and it had beaten Wahlstedt before he could even get a dive in. It had all the hallmarks of a real cup tie.

Rovers picked up from where they left off after the break, though, so, too, did Cardiff's defending. Jonathan Panzo had a poor game and it was typified by him gifting the ball to Andrew Moran just outside the Bluebirds' penalty area and the Irishman did not waste the opportunity, sweeping home the hosts' third.

It was an onslaught after that. Ebou Adams put in a poor challenge and conceded a penalty, but Runarsson did well to tip Sigurdsson's spot-kick away for a corner. City weren't afforded any respite, though, and Moran was found from that corner before he smacked home from 25 yards to earn the home side a two-goal advantage.

There was a sense that Bulut had given up the ghost with this one and rang the changes. Beecher and Crole were introduced on the hour for their senior debuts in the hope that the Bluebirds would at least get something positive out of the game in that respect.

For any ‘Professional’ Team to concede five times is embarrassing

Concede is probably the wrong word...

I'd prefer 'gift'

Couldve, should've done better on at least 3 of them.

Keeper and Panzo had a mare. Romeo in a back 3. No defending out wide. Please. Never again.

Alnwick saves 4 out of 5 them goals and Panzo is way off the pace

Let’s be honest, we were set up to fail. If Bulut put those players out in those positions for a league game, we would think he’s lost it. Would have been nice if he had taken it a little serious though.

The comment about "the gulf" between our reserved etc is bull.
I assume he didn't watch us play Birmingham off the park, mainly their first team and all.
It was a bad game. Tried something new. Didn't work.
They wanted it more. We can clearly see we are concentrating on the league.

[/quote] For any ‘Professional’ Team to concede five times is embarrassing [/quote]

What is embarrassing is coming out with a statement like that. Conceding five goals in a game can happen to some of the best teams on the planet on occasions. That's football.

Second half the first few moments we took a battering.

Gifted them a couple of goals.