Argyle’s hopes of making a winning start to their post-international window fixtures were dashed at Cardiff City, as the Greens lost 5-0.  

Never mind international break; this game was lost before the half-time break in South Wales. Cardiff going in as 2-0 leaders, thanks to goals from Alex Robertson and Rubin Colwill, was already an ominous deficit for the Pilgrims, but when Ibrahim Cissoko was sent off for pushing Perry Ng to the ground just before the interval, the writing was well and truly on the wall.  

After the break, Cardiff added to their tally via Anwar El Ghazi’s tap-in, a neat finish from Callum Robinson, and a goal from substitute Chris Willock, who struck in after a corner was cleared to him on the edge of the area.  

Argyle boss Wayne Rooney, consigned to Cardiff City Stadium’s directors’ box after his sending off against Blackburn, named the same starting 11 from the game prior to the international break. There were, though, four different names on the Rooney-less bench, namely Nathanael Ogbeta, Adam Forshaw, Freddie Issaka and, for the first time, Andre Gray.  

The first clear chance of the game was Argyle’s, and it fell to Michael Obafemi, on the 10-minute mark. Rami Al Hajj and Morgan Whittaker helped cut a swathe through the Cardiff defence, releasing Obafemi. He clipped the ball over the oncoming goalkeeper Jak Alnwick but watched the ball roll wide of the post.  

Cardiff’s response was an attack, a few minutes later, instigated by a neat run-and-spin by Colwill, then picking out Anwar El Ghazi’s run. It was a dangerous incursion, but the Dutchman’s shot, then subsequent cross, were both superbly defended by Kornel Szucs.  

Just a couple of minutes later, though, Cardiff took the lead. Colwill was involved again, this time rolling back to Robertson, 20 yards out, who perfectly curled a beautiful shot away from Daniel Grimshaw, and into the corner of the net.  

Cardiff, buoyed, were hungry for more, and soon after the goal worked Ollie Tanner into a good position in the area. He struck powerfully, but Grimshaw saved equally as strongly, at his near post.  

City doubled their lead on 24 minutes, with Colwill, the best player on the pitch to this point, getting the goal. Argyle had partially dealt with a cross from the Cardiff left, but the header landed at Colwill’s feet, and he was afforded enough time to shift the ball to his left foot and pick his spot.  

It took until 36 minutes for Argyle to work their way into a dangerous position once more. Joe Edwards, then Obafemi, moved the ball onto Al Hajj, who cut onto his right foot just outside the area, but his attempt at a curving effort was deflected slightly, taking the sting off the hit, and making Alnwick’s save a straightforward one.  

The Greens’ already uphill battle was given a steeper incline when Cissoko was dismissed four minutes before the break. Cissoko was fouled, running down the left, and when on the deck, had the ball kicked at him by Perry Ng. The Cardiff full-back was later booked for his indiscretion, but Cissoko’s reaction was deemed by the referee to be sufficient to be sent off for violent conduct. Argyle were two down, and a man down.  

Argyle brought on Jordan Houghton at half-time, replacing Rami Al-Hajj. Houghton came into a central midfield position, Darko Gyabi shifting to the left, as Argyle essentially went to a 4-4-1 shape.  

In the 49^th minute, Argyle had a glorious opportunity to narrow the deficit. Gyabi was brought down, giving Argyle a free-kick, which Randell clipped into the area. An unmarked Szucs mistimed a header, but the ball fell to Obafemi, and he rolled the ball sideways. It looked perfect for Gyabi, or maybe Lewis Gibson, to strike, but both hesitated. In the end Gibson got a shot away, but it was on his right foot and sailed over.  

The Pilgrims were made to pay for not grabbing one back almost immediately. Colwill again was involved, beating Gyabi to a ball in the area, then rolling across the six-yard area to where El Ghazi stood, a yard out, to gratefully put the ball over the line. He could have blown it in.   

City then struck the bar - David Turnbull’s attempted cross was deflected by the head of Bali Mumba and looped onto the frame of the goal – before Argyle made a quick break through the centre, with Obafemi being fouled, but the referee allowed play to continue as Randell was bursting through. He, though, was foiled in the area before he could truly get a shot away.  

With 15 minutes to go, Callum Robinson glided through and slotted away to make it four for the Bluebirds, and with the game truly beyond Argyle, a fifth was added when Willock returned a corner, shooting into the ground, up in the air, and into the net.  

Argyle: 31 Daniel Grimshaw, 2 Bali Mumba, 6 Kornel Szucs, 7 Ibrahim Cissoko, 8 Joe Edwards (capt), 10 Morgan Whittaker (11 Callum Wright, 72), 14 Michael Obafemi (9 Ryan Hardie, 62), 17 Lewis Gibson, 18 Darko Gyabi (35 Freddie Issaka, 62), 20 Adam Randell (27 Adam Forshaw, 72), 28 Rami Al Hajj (4 Jordan Houghton, half-time). Substitutes: 25 Marko Marosi (gk), 3 Nathanael Ogbeta, 19 Andre Gray, 44 Victor Palsson.  

Sent off: Cissoko 41 

Booked: Edwards 87 

Cardiff: 21 Jak Alnwick, 4 Dimitrios Goutas, 11 Callum O’Dowda (23 Joel Bagan, 76), 12 Calum Chambers, 14 David Turnbull (35 Andy Rinomhota, 67), 18 Alex Robertson, 20 Anwar El Ghazi (15 Wilfried Kanga, 76), 27 Rubin Colwill (16 Chris Willock, 66) 32 Ollie Tanner (19 Yakou Meite, 72), 38 Perry Ng, 47 Callum Robinson. Substitutes: 1 Ethan Horvath (gk), 2 Will Fish, 5 Jesper Daland, 17 Jamilu Collins.  

Goals: Robertson 16, Colwill 24, Robinson 75, Willock 80 

Booked: Robinson 39, Ng 41, Robertson 48  

Attendance: 20,634 (3,200 est away) 

Referee: Andrew Kitchen