Cardiff City 3-1 Millwall: Centre-back Aden Flint scores twice for Bluebirds

Aden FlintImage source, Rex Features
Image caption,

Aden Flint had scored twice to salvage a 2-2 draw for Cardiff at Peterborough on Tuesday

Centre-back Aden Flint scored two goals in four second-half minutes to extend Cardiff City's unbeaten start to the season with a rugged win over Millwall.

A brawl of a first half produced few chances, with Cardiff striker Kieffer Moore heading on to the crossbar.

Flint put the home side in front as he glanced in from substitute Ryan Giles' free-kick, before heading in from an equally pinpoint Giles' cross from open play.

Benik Afobe's deflected shot brought Millwall back into the contest with 15 minutes left, but Cardiff captain Sean Morrison headed in a third to seal victory.

A second win in four matches moves Cardiff up to sixth in the table, while Millwall drop to 21st as they still search for their first win of the new campaign.

Flint now has four goals in his past two matches and, remarkably for a centre-back, he is the top scorer in the Championship at this early stage.

His double and Morrison's effort also mean that all eight of Cardiff's league goals so far this season have been headers.

It was inevitable that a contest this attritional would be settled by such a direct approach.

The ball spent most of its time in the air during a first half full of physical confrontation, but devoid of attacking invention.

Chances were therefore at a premium, the first falling to Millwall as former Cardiff left-back Scott Malone played in Benik Afobe, whose close-range shot was superbly blocked by the covering Curtis Nelson.

Cardiff responded with Joe Ralls' clipped diagonal cross for Moore, who was off balance as he miscued his shot wide.

Wing-back Tom Sang then floated a fine cross to the back post, where Moore headed the ball back across goal and on to the bar.

Other than those efforts, scoring opportunities - and, in truth, any real moments of quality - were scarce before half-time.

There was more excitement in the second half, with Flint putting Cardiff ahead as he flicked in from Giles' inviting, inswinging free-kick from the right.

The substitute winger then provided a cross of equal precision from open play on the left, with Flint nodding in at the back post.

Afobe's deflected shot raised hopes of a Millwall comeback and they were close to equalising four minutes later when Malone smashed a shot against the crossbar.

But Cardiff eased any potential nerves with a third goal as Morrison met Marlon Pack's long throw with a looping header to extend his side's unbeaten run in all competitions to 11 games.

Cardiff manager Mick McCarthy said:

"We are certainly good at scoring from crosses, that's for sure. But they all count.

"I'm not bothered. Keep winning games, that's the name of the game.

"I thought first half we looked leggy and weren't up to speed. They had the better of it.

"Second half we were better and the subs made the difference."

Millwall manager Gary Rowett said:

"We spoke a lot about needing to stand up to Cardiff and their set-piece in the 48 hours before the game, and then again at half-time.

"We probably had the better moments in the first half and showed good composure and movement.

"But to concede three set-piece goals wasn't great. We defended really well up to that point.

"We should've made it 2-2 when we hit the bar. It's those small moments in matches that are getting away from us."

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