Cardiff City 4-0 Barnsley: Willock bags brace as Bluebirds batter Tykes in thumping win

Cardiff City produced one of their most complete performances of the season as they swept Barnsley aside with a convincing 4-0 win at the Cardiff City Stadium.

Brian Barry-Murphy’s side were relentless from the first whistle and fully deserved a victory that matched their biggest margin of success this campaign, equalling the 4-0 triumph over Plymouth earlier in the season, keeping them four points clear of second-placed Lincoln City at the top of the table.

City wasted no time in asserting themselves and took the lead inside three minutes. Omari Kellyman, leading the line in the absence of Yousef Salech, switched play smartly to Ollie Tanner, whose influence was immediate and constant. Tanner’s pass found Perry Ng bursting forward on the overlap and the right-back showed superb composure to control before rifling a fierce effort into the roof of the net from a tight angle.

The early goal set the tone. Tanner continued to torment Barnsley’s left side, delivering a series of dangerous crosses that City really should have capitalised on. The best chance fell to Tanner himself midway through the first half, ghosting in at the far post to meet Chris Willock’s inviting cross, only to volley wide from close range when it looked easier to score.

Barnsley offered sporadic threat on the break, with Adam Phillips and Davis Keillor-Dunn both testing Nathan Trott from distance, but Cardiff were largely in control. Alex Robertson walked a tightrope after picking up an early booking for a cynical foul, much to the frustration of Tykes boss Conor Hourihane, who felt the midfielder was fortunate to stay on the pitch.

The Bluebirds’ pressure eventually told again right on the stroke of half-time. After Cardiff regained possession from a