Cardiff City 3-0 Barnsley: Bluebirds cruise to first home win

Junior Hoilett celebrates his first goal of the season

Cardiff City cruised to a first home victory of the season as Barnsley were beaten for the first time under Valerien Ismael.

The Bluebirds were rarely troubled after Junior Hoilett's close-range finish put them ahead early on.

Joe Ralls doubled Cardiff's lead from the penalty spot before Harry Wilson, who had won the spot-kick, drilled home a classy third goal.

Neil Harris' team had taken only two points from four home games before brushing Barnsley aside to climb to 11th in the table.

Defeat was a first setback for new Tykes boss Ismael, who had taken six points from his first two games in charge, but now sees his side drop to 17th.

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Cardiff had come into the contest under pressure to deliver a result having failed to win in their last four matches, but any tension was eased by the fourth-minute opener.

When Michael Helik could not clear Joe Bennett's left-wing cross, Hoilett turned in the penalty area and stroked the ball into the far corner of the net for his first goal of the season.

Robert Glatzel flicked a header wide and saw a volley saved before Kieffer Moore missed a big chance to score against his former club, heading straight at Barnsley goalkeeper Jack Walton from point-blank range.

The visitors were creaking and, though Conor Chaplin and Patrick Schmidt were foiled by Alex Smithies late in the first half, it was no shock when Cardiff doubled their lead.

On-loan Liverpool winger Wilson was instrumental, exchanging passes with Moore before tumbling under Helik's sliding challenge.

Joe Ralls scored his third goal in two games

After referee Dean Whitestone eventually pointed to the spot, Ralls sent Walton the wrong way to claim his third goal in two games.

The second half was short on clear-cut chances, with Barnsley never threatening a comeback as their five-game unbeaten run in the Championship came to an end.

Harris had criticised his players after their weekend defeat at Queens Park Rangers, but he had no complaints here as Wilson, who was back in the side after injury, scored for the second time in four Cardiff appearances to put the result beyond doubt.

Fed by Ralls just outside the penalty area, the Wales international drove the ball beyond Walton and into the net from 20 yards.

Cardiff manager Neil Harris:

"I can talk a lot about the goals we scored, the chances we created, the clean sheet, but I am most impressed with the reaction of my players.

"Obviously I was honest in my opinion after the game on the performance in the first half at QPR (last Saturday). I was honest with my players at half-time and after the game.

"When you do that you want a positive reaction from the group and tonight I got that.

"I thought the performance level tonight individually and collectively was outstanding. The only frustration is that we didn't score more."

Barnsley head coach Valerien Ismael:

"I was disappointed with the defending for the goals today, but in the first half we could have had a penalty with Patrick Schmidt and then on the counter-attack we conceded a penalty, which was also a penalty, and that changed the game.

"We didn't do enough after 90 minutes.

"A lot of things went wrong today, tiredness was an issue and we had injuries which forced us to change the formation.

"Today it was very difficult because we weren't dangerous enough in the opponents' box. We have to analyse why it was like this today and put it right for the game against Derby on Saturday."