Cardiff City 3 Barnsley 0 - Tykes boss Valerien Ismael suffers first defeat

An early strike from Junior Hoilett and a Joe Ralls penalty put Barnsley boss Valerien Ismael on course for his first defeat in the job before Harry Wilson’s powerful strike secured the elusive win in the Welsh capital.

Last season’s play-off semi-finalists were yet to register their first home victory of the campaign and faced a Barnsley side unbeaten in their last five matches.

Elliot Simoes was the only enforced change for Barnsley after Callum Brittain suffered a hamstring injury last time out.

The hosts piled on the pressure from the kick-off and had their reward after just four minutes as Hoilett broke the deadlock.

The winger had been denied moments earlier by Barnsley goalkeeper Jack Walton, who had rushed off his line to deny him.

But Hoilett did not waste his second chance when Michal Helik failed to clear Joe Bennett’s cross as he fired a left-footed shot into the bottom corner.

Cardiff’s attacking ploy was proving fruitful as the visitors continued to be overwhelmed by the aerial threat of former Tykes striker Moore and Robert Glatzel.

The German forward glanced a Wilson cross just wide less than 60 seconds after the opener, and he wasted another chance in the 25th minute when he prodded a weak shot into Walton’s hands from Bennett’s early cross.

Ismael had seen enough and hauled Eliot Simoes off five minutes before half-time but the change made little difference as Cardiff doubled their lead in the 45th minute.

Wilson played a neat one-two with Moore inside the Barnsley area before he was tripped by the outstretched leg of Helik as he attempted a last-ditch challenge. Ralls slotted scored the penalty to make it 2-0 at the interval.

And Wilson arrowed a shot into the corner from 20 yards out with 13 minutes remaining.

Cardiff: Smithies, Bacuna, Morrison, Nelson, Bennett, Wilson (Whyte 79), Pack, Ralls (Vaulks 86), Hoilett, Kieffer Moore, Glatzel (Ojo 67). Unused substitutes: Phillips, Murphy, Bamba, Bagan.

Barnsley: Walton, Sollbauer, Helik, Andersen, Frieser, Mowatt, James (Halme 80), Styles, Chaplin, Simoes (Oduor 40), Schmidt (Adeboyejo 63). Unused substitutes: Kane, Thomas, Miller, Collins.

Referee: D Whitestone (Northamptonshire).

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