Cardiff City took on a strong Crystal Palace team in a Professional Development League Under-23 match at Selhurst Park.

Senior international Pape Souare (Senegal) was included in the Palace team along with Swedish under-21 international midfielder Erdal Rakip, who has joined the London club on loan from Benfica.

James Daly gave Palace a 39th minute lead and that was the only goal during the first hour, but then Palace took control to win 4-0.

Cardiff included Tom Bexton, a teenage defender from Wolves, and Matt Campbell-Mhlope, a former Millwall youth player who has been playing for Hemel Hempstead and Farnborough Town.

This was always going to be a difficult match for the young Bluebirds against a Palace team who are eight points clear at the top of the table.

Quick goals by Levi Lumeka and Jason Lokilo around the hour mark plus an injury time striker by substitute Joseph Hungbo completed the home tally.

Palace sent on Connor Wickham, who featured in his first game since injuring a knee at Swansea City in November 2016.

Cardiff went close when, after a corner on eight minutes, Tom Bexton had a shot blocked before Matt Campbell scuffed the rebound wide.

Belgian winger Jason Lokilo set up the first goal when he was clattered by James Waite and jumped to take a quick free-kick. He picked out Erdal Rakip whose cross deflected off Rhys Abbruzzese and Daly was in place to fire his sixth goal in his last six under-23 appearances.

The Bluebirds created a couple of chances in their search for an equaliser. Ciaron Brown headed a Waite free-kick straight at goalkeeper Joe Tupper before Brad Carr spun away from Jach and forced the Palace keeper to push the ball around a post.

Two goals in three minutes, scored by Lumeka after 59 minutes and Lokilo put Palace in command, but Cardiff kept battling and Brown fired against a post.

Hungbo made it 4-0 from the final touch of the match converting a Lumeka cross to earn a fifth win in six fixtures for Palace.

The next fixture for Cardiff’s under-23 team is against Bolton Wanderers at Cardiff City Stadium next Monday (March 19, 7pm).

Crystal Palace: Joe Tupper, Richard Bakary, Oliver O’Dwyer (Tylor Brown 82), Jaroslaw Jach, Pape Souare, Giovanni McGregor, Erdal Rakip, Jason Lokilo (Joseph Hungbo 90), Kian Flanagan, Levi Lumeka, James Daly (Connor Wickham 71). Subs not used: Oliver Webber (gk), Lewis Bryon.

Cardiff City: Warren Burwood, Cameron Coxe, Ciaran Brown, Tom Bexton (Connor Davies 85), Rhys Abbruzzese, Brad Carr, Connor Young, James Waite, Ogo Obi (Deacon 46), Matt Campbell (Lloyd Humphries 76), Mark Harris. Sub not used: George Ratcliffe (gk).