Cardiff too good for 10-man Plymouth as Wayne Rooney watches from the stands

Cardiff produced their best display of the season to thrash Plymouth 5-0 and heap further misery on Wayne Rooney.

Alex Robertson struck first his league goal since joining from Manchester City in the 16th minute, with Rubin Colwill doubling Cardiff’s lead eight minutes later.

Rooney – serving a one-match touchline ban – then saw Ibrahim Cissoko receive a straight red card before Anwar El Ghazi bagged his first goal for Cardiff in the 52nd minute.

Callum Robinson notched on 75 minutes before Chris Willock scored his first for the club five minutes later as Cardiff clinched a second win in three games under interim boss Omer Riza – leaving Plymouth winless on the road this term.

Early scare

Cardiff appeared destined to go behind early on when two former Swansea attackers combined – with Morgan Whittaker threading through to Michael Obafemi who shot wide from close range. But it was all Cardiff after that early scare.

Colwill was a constant menace for the hosts, and the Wales international produced some quality in the final third before teeing up Robertson who fired beyond Daniel Grimshaw from 20 yards out to give the Bluebirds the lead.

Ollie Tanner then stung the palms of the Plymouth goalkeeper before Colwill drilled over as Cardiff showed confidence that desperately lacked under former boss Erol Bulut.

And Colwill made it 2-0 after Plymouth failed to clear from Callum O’Dowda’s teasing cross, giving Colwill time to slot home from 12 yards out.

Away home

The 3,000 fans in the away end must have continued to rue Obafemi’s early miss as they watched their side give up chances, with Dimitrios Goutas heading Calum Chambers’ cross over.

And Plymouth’s task became even harder before half-time as Cissoko was sent off for his reaction to an incident with Perry Ng.

Lewis Gibson blazed over shortly after half-time as Plymouth wasted a chance to get back into the contest.

And they were instantly made to pay as Colwill found space on the right before picking out El Ghazi who tapped home from two yards out.

With the contest effectively over, Bali Mumba was grateful to see his flicked header from David Turnbull’s shot hit the crossbar.

Cardiff scored a fourth as Robinson latched on to substitute Willock’s pass before slotting home – paying tribute to former Sheffield United team-mate George Baldock during his celebration.

And Willock rifled beyond Grimshaw from the edge of the box as the Bluebirds scored five goals in a league match for the first time since 2017 to compound Rooney’s frustrations.