Cardiff City brutally hammered in first pre-season match against FC Midtjylland

Cardiff City's pre-season campaign got off to a brutal start as the Bluebirds were dismantled 6-0 by FC Midtjylland at Cardiff City Stadium. The Danish side plundered three goals in either half as they blew away Brian Barry-Murphy's side in comprehensive fashion. The Bluebirds were way off the pace from start to finish, up against a side who play a Europa League qualifying match in just 12 days' time. The visitors took the lead through Valdemar Byskov on 18 minutes after an error from goalkeeper Harry Tyrer and didn't look back as Franculino and Vitor Bak trebled the lead before the break. Yousef Salech, Ollie Tanner and Alex Robertson all had chances of note for the Bluebirds but could not convert as Cardiff trailed 3-0 inside 45 minutes. Things were no different in the second-half as Cardiff changed the entire XI. Friday Etim scored twice and Junior Brumado made it six with over half an hour to go. Thankfully, that was the end of the goals as things threatened to get completely out of hand, although Chris Willock, Callum Robinson and Cian Ashford all had chances. Barry-Murphy looked somewhat unimpressed as he watched from the sidelines and later the stands, with the performance showing how far Cardiff have to go before the Championship kicks off next month. Bluebirds fans are hoping to see a number of new signings arrive in the next few weeks to bolster the squad for the challenge ahead. Cardiff now head to Cork for a pre-season training camp, where they will play Cork City on Tuesday evening. Two further friendlies against Forest Green Rovers and Italian side Roma complete the pre-season campaign before the Championship begins against Wrexham on August 17. Cardiff City first-half XI: Tyer, Williams, Ng, Osho, Bagan, Robertson (c), Turnbull, Moreno, Tanner, Sykes, Salech Cardiff City second-half XI: Turner, Kpakio, Fish, Chambers, Thomas, Mafico, Colwill, Robinson, Ashford, Willock, Davies