Cardiff romp to thumping victory at Huddersfield

Cardiff City won for the first time in four Championship games as they romped to a 4-0 victory at Huddersfield Town.

They swiftly doubled the lead when centre-back Dimitrios Goutas headed in at a corner before hapless Huddersfield were undone at another set-piece as Yakou Meite lashed in his first Cardiff goal.

Jack Rudoni wasted Huddersfield’s best first-half chance with a wayward header before Perry Ng’s fabulous free-kick ended any slim chance of a Huddersfield revival after the break.

Cardiff’s second away win of the league campaign is timely for Erol Bulut, who had demanded better from his team having seen them take only one point from their previous three games.

They responded with an emphatic victory which lifts Cardiff into the play-off places.

But there was frustration for opposite number Darren Moore, whose side hit the bar late on through Rudoni, but drop to 19th in the table having slumped to their second 4-0 loss at the John Smith’s Stadium this season.

Huddersfield had lost only once in eight matches before this, though last Saturday’s win over Queens Park Rangers was their first since Moore took the reins just over a month ago.

Their attempt to build on that success very quickly turned sour, with Cardiff looking menacing every time they attacked early on.

Josh Bowler’s run down the right set up the opening goal, as he crossed low for Robinson to mark his maiden Championship start of the season with what was credited as his first league goal of the campaign, even though his effort ricocheted into the net.

Huddersfield might have mustered an immediate response when Rudoni’s free-kick reached Kian Harratt, but his low drive was parried by Cardiff goalkeeper Jak Alnwick.

With that Cardiff came forward once more – and, after Bowler’s shot was turned away for a corner by Terriers keeper Lee Nicholls, Goutas stooped to head home from Joe Ralls’ delivery.

The chances kept coming for Cardiff, with Karlan Grant, Robinson and Bowler all going close before Goutas rose to meet another Ralls corner and the ball dropped perfectly for Meite to thump in from 10 yards.

On the touchline, Moore looked bemused by his team’s defensive failings.

They might have given themselves a hope in first-half stoppage time when the unmarked Rudoni met Yuta Nakayama’s cross, but his header flew the wrong side of the post.

Unsurprisingly, Huddersfield were booed off by some among the home crowd at the break.

Moore responded by making no fewer than four half-time substitutes, but the changes had little impact as Cardiff’s fourth goal arrived in spectacular fashion.

Ng’s 30-yard free-kick was glorious, as his curling, dipping effort flashed inside Nicholls’ left-hand post.

Sorba Thomas’ rising shot forced another save from Alnwick, before Rudoni’s drive from the edge of the box crashed off the bar.