Moylan scores twice as Cardiff put five past Watford

Jack Moylan scored twice as Cardiff City beat Watford 5-1 at Cardiff City Stadium on Tuesday night. Four goals before half-time settled the direction of the game, with a Mattie Pollock own goal and an Ollie Tanner strike adding to Moylan’s double. Substitute Callum Robinson scored Cardiff’s fifth late on before Hector Kyprianou pulled one back. The result moves the Bluebirds above Watford in the Championship, according to Cardiff’s official match report, with a trip to Middlesbrough next.

Four before the interval

Nathan Trott made an early save from Myron Boadu, but Cardiff then took control of the opening half. Moylan won a penalty after 11 minutes and converted it himself to put the home side ahead. Cian Ashford found Moylan for the second after 35 minutes. The midfielder finished his one-on-one chance in off the post. Six minutes later, Pollock diverted Joel Bagan’s corner into his own net. Tanner completed the first-half scoring in added time, cutting inside from the right and finishing low into the corner.

Robinson adds the fifth

Cardiff had to replace Dylan Lawlor with Will Fish during the first half after an injury. The club report describes Fish’s appearance as his first of the campaign. There is no confirmed assessment of Lawlor’s injury in the report. Chris Willock, restored to the starting team for Robinson, had a chance to extend the lead from the penalty spot after 65 minutes. Federico Ravaglia saved the kick. Robinson came on after 82 minutes and scored three minutes later, making it two goals in two games for the forward. Kyprianou headed Watford’s consolation in the 87th minute.

Control and chances

API-Football records Cardiff with 58% possession and 22 shots to Watford’s 14. Cardiff put ten attempts on target against four, while the same provider gives expected goals of 3.75 to 1.52. The numbers support the sustained attacking advantage behind the score. Cardiff’s five goals also came despite the saved second penalty. Moving above Watford is the immediate consequence, while Middlesbrough provide the next test of whether Cardiff can carry this home performance into an away match.