Huddersfield Town 0-4 Cardiff City: Bluebirds climb into play-off places after thrashing Terriers

Yakou Meite's goal was his first for Cardiff in his 10th appearance since joining the club in the summer

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

The Bluebirds seized control of the contest early on as Callum Robinson's backheel deflected into the net off Matty Pearson.

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.

Dimitrios Goutas' goal was his second since joining Cardiff City last summer

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.

Huddersfield manager Darren Moore:

"A nightmare start, you don't want to concede a couple of goals in the first 10 minutes.

"Cardiff have got some good players and they grew in confidence. They started moving the ball round on a slick, greasy surface tonight and caused us problems to get to grips with them in the first half.

"Second half I wanted to change the shape. We had one or two chances to get back in the game but it went away from us. We didn't get the right touch in their penalty area.

"The most disappointing thing, usually [goals from] set-plays come from a lack of concentration. We certainly had people in the right places but we just didn't get the first contact. It's just a bad night at the office."

Cardiff manager Erol Bulut:

"Today we saw a really, really good Cardiff City. What we asked from the players, they did it well.

"Second half we knew the opponent would come with long balls but we were prepared for that. We worked really hard, it was a really good game from us.

"Last game we were not aggressive enough, too far away from the opponents. And offensively, with the ball, we didn't create enough. Today, in an away game, to score four goals and it could be much more… but okay, I am satisfied with four goals.

"We had a really good run, with four wins in a row. But I said always it can change very quickly. We had two games we didn't want. Now we come back with a victory today but we have to go again."