Blackburn Rovers 5-2 Cardiff City: Andrew Moran stars as hosts reach Carabao Cup fourth round

Andrew Moran joined Blackburn on a season-long loan in August

Teenager Andrew Moran struck twice as Blackburn Rovers thumped in-form Cardiff City 5-2 to reach round four of the Carabao Cup.

Blackburn twice led in the first half, through Jake Garrett and Arnor Sigurdsson, only to be pegged back by Callum Robinson and Kion Etete.

On-loan Brighton midfielder Moran then struck either side of Sigurdsson's missed penalty to put Rovers in charge.

Dilan Markanday's smart finish ended any slim chance of a Cardiff revival.

Free-scoring Blackburn are through to the last 16 of the League Cup for the second successive year, having responded in some style to back-to-back Championship defeats.

Cardiff, who made 11 changes compared to the hosts' eight, were beaten for only the second time in seven games in all competitions as their best League Cup run since 2014-15 came to an end.

Jon Dahl Tomasson has tended to enjoy knockout football since taking charge at Ewood Park, reaching the FA Cup quarter-final last season and humbling West Ham during Rovers' League Cup run.

His side had scored 12 goals and conceded three in the first two rounds in their latest cup run - and this contest never looked like being tight.

Both teams had threatened by the time Tomasson's side went ahead, Garrett running on to James Hill's ball over the top and finishing smartly to make it three goals in three Carabao Cup appearances this season.

Cardiff's response was swift, Rubin Colwill's pass allowing Robinson to drive into space and find the bottom corner from 25 yards.

The Bluebirds then paid the price for giving the ball away, as Moran drove down the right and pulled back for Sigurdsson to guide in his second Rovers goal in just his second game for the club.

Once more the lead did not last long, with Cardiff levelling in first-half stoppage time after Ollie Tanner's free-kick was half-cleared and Romaine Sawyers helped the ball back to Etete.

Callum Robinson (second left) celebrates his first goal of the season with his Cardiff team-mates

Having been allowed to turn in the area, the former Tottenham striker steered a shot inside the far post to make it four goals this season, one more than his final tally in 2022-23.

But having competed until that point, Erol Bulut's side fell away after the break.

Blackburn's third goal was a gift, Jonathan Panzo marking his first Cardiff start with a desperate pass on the edge of his own area which allowed Moran to stroll in and guide his shot beyond the helpless Alex Runarsson.

Moran then won the spot-kick as he was brought down by Ebou Adams, only for Sigurdsson to be denied by a fine Runarsson save.

Yet within a minute Moran was back at the heart of the action, the 19-year-old claiming his second senior goal five minutes after his first by finding the bottom corner from outside the box.

Moran's remarkable night continued as he claimed a second assist following another Cardiff error, as his precise pass allowed Markanday to steer in off the post.

Cardiff manager Erol Bulut:

"I said before, in the cup we will try to continue so far as we can. Today was the end for us against a good Blackburn team. They played much, much better than us.

"We were not concentrated enough, not focused enough.

"For me and the club the priority is the league, so that's why we didn't bring many players with us.

"But at least we saw today which players we can use in our main team. Today it was only a few, not enough, not as many as I was expecting. But there were a few who can help us in the league."