Plymouth Argyle 0, Cardiff City 1
Kenneth Zohore’s second half goal earned Cardiff City victory against League One Plymouth Argyle at Home Park.
The Bluebirds won all three games on their South West tour and manager Neil Warnock will be delighted with the clean sheet kept by goalkeepers Neil Etheridge and Brian Murphy.
An estimated 250-plus Cardiff fans watched their team win and, under Neil Warnock’s guidance, they have every reason to feel positive about the Championship challenge ahead.
Warnock named a strong starting line-up and most of those will surely start the season in the Championship opener at Burton Albion.
Right-back Lee Peltier, who felt a muscle tightness at Bodmin on Wednesday, and was not risked plus Sol Bamba are the two players likely to go in.
Plymouth-born captain Sean Morrison partnered Bruno Manga in the first half, while Bamba went on at the break. Manga made an outstanding interception during the first half, taking the ball out of the air with his right foot and guiding it to safety as Plymouth threatened.
He made way for Bamba, who is going to be a key player for City this season.
Zohore led the attack with Danny Ward operating on the left, while support was provided by the fast and direct Nathaniel Mendez-Laing and aggressive midfield man Loic Damour in particular.
This was easily the most competitive match of Cardiff’s three fixtures on their week-long tour and newly-promoted Plymouth caused their visitors problems at times.
City, though, have the look of a team full of belief and assured that they possess enough quality to succeed.
Danish forward Zohore was a big, physical threat to Argyle and he scored his fourth goal of the tour after Lee Tomlin’s quick thinking caught the home team out.
Cardiff were awarded a free-kick 40 yards out and while Plymouth were still preparing Tomlin slid an accurate low pass through their defence and Zohore timed his run to perfection.
Goalkeeper Luke McCormick left his line to challenge the centre-forward and Zohore finished calmly and clinically, slipping a low shot into the net.
It was fabulous to watch Tomlin and Zohore on the same wavelength, spotting the opportunity, and a superb finish.
The Bluebirds looked solid at the back against League One Argyle for most of the game, although there were one or two lapses, while they have creative options in midfield.
With Zohore alongside Ward and Tomlin orchestrating things a little deeper Cardiff will have a big goalscoring threat this season.
Warnock sent on nine substitutes with Morrison and Joe Ralls the two who completed 90 minutes.
City scored 11 goals in three matches on tour, although Argyle were the only Football League opposition, and conceded three.
There are areas where Cardiff will want to improve, but the signs so far are excellent.
Warnock has a squad capable of finishing top 10 or better and he is the type of manager whose man management and ability to mould a team can lift the Bluebirds even higher.
Plymouth Argyle: L McCormick, capt (R Te Loeke 82), Y Songo’o (C Sangster 82), R Edwards (J Sokolik 46), L Ainsworth (R Lameiras 46), G Carey (A Fletcher 82), J Jervis (N Blissett 46), S Bradley (J Bentley 82), J Grant (G Wylde 46), A Taylor-Sinclair, O Threlkeld, D Fox (A Sarcevic 46).
Sub not used: G Sawyer.
Cardiff City: N Etheridge (B Murphy 46), J Bennett (L Peltier 75), S Morrison (capt), B Manga (S Bamba 46), J Ralls, D Ward (I Meite 80), K Zohore (D John 66), M Connolly (J Richards 30), A Gunnarsson (G Halford 70), N Mendez-Laing (M Kennedy 46), L Damour (L Tomlin 46).
Sub not used: None.
Referee: Lee Swabey.
Attendance: 5,021.