Cardiff City 3-2 Coventry City: Bluebirds back up derby win with another victory thanks to Goutas, Grant and Etete strikes

Cardiff City backed up their South Wales derby win with a toughly-fought 3-2 triumph over Coventry City, a result they hope will really help to kickstart this campaign in earnest.

It was honours even in the first half, with both goals coming via set pieces. Dimitrios Goutas' header was cancelled out before the break thanks to Matty Godden's strike as he turned home from close range.

And the Sky Blues had many opportunities to get their noses in front, but a Ryan Wintle cross found Karlan Grant and he sent a well-directed header home to get City back in the lead.

Cardiff still weren't comfortable, though, and Coventry would still have fancied getting something out of the game. But Kion Etete put the tie to bed with a hammered finish just seconds after coming on to wrap up all three points, despite an injury-time scare from Godden, who netted his second of the match.

The big talking point pre-match was the omission of Aaron Ramsey, of course, but WalesOnline was told the Wales captain was simply rested amid a three-game week.

There were two changes from Erol Bulut, who opted to shore up the midfield with the inclusion of Joe Ralls, rather than Rubin Colwill or Callum Robinson, for Ramsey as they looked to match-up against the Sky Blues' shape. Ollie Tanner, the hero from derby day, earned a start in place of Yakou Meite.

Buoyed by the victory over the Swans, Cardiff shot out of the traps and played some lovely football early doors. They looked confident in how they wanted to play and managed to trouble the Sky Blues' wing-backs in particular, one such move earned them an early corner.

Ralls whipped in an outswinger and Goutas, who it must be said was in an ocean of space, buried his header with aplomb from five yards out.