Chris Willock scored a first-half hat-trick as Cardiff City thumped National League side Forest Green Rovers 5-1 in their penultimate pre-season fixture.
Midfielder Willock scored from the penalty spot to complete his hat-trick and put the Bluebirds 5-0 up at half-time.
Wales international Isaak Davies opened the scoring on eight minutes and Cardiff were 4-0 up after 24 minutes, with Yousuf Salech also scoring.
Willock was withdrawn at the break before Robbie Savage's Forest Green pulled one back, and Cardiff introduced five youngsters, including 16-year-old Noah Anyadike.
Rubin Colwill, Perry Ng, Callum Chambers, Cian Ashford and Dylan Lawlor were not named in the squad by manager Brian Barry-Murphy.
Eli King, who spent most of last season out with an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury and last played in August 2025, made the bench.
Cardiff finish their pre-season preparations with a friendly against Italian giants AS Roma on Saturday, 1 August (15:00 BST).
Their 2026-27 campaign starts with a home Carabao Cup tie against Swindon Town on Saturday, 8 August (15:00 BST) and they host Wrexham in the Championship on Monday, 17 August (20:00 BST).
Forest Green Rovers: Pagel, Agina (Clarke 59'), Obi, Ajayi, Kengni, Campbell, Ewing (Osude 59'), Etaluku (Kelly 46'), McAllister, Berry (Pemberton 59'), Mellor (Patrick 70'). Subs Not Used: Godfrey, Marquez, Conteh, Walsh, Kircough, Haughton.
Cardiff City: Trott (Tyrer 69'), Kpakio, Osho (Katsukunya 69'), Fish, Bagan (Thomas 69'), Robertson (King 64'), J.Colwill (Moreno 69'), Turnbull (Anyadike 79'), Davies (Tankiewicz 69'), Willock (Tanner 46'), Salech (Robinson 69'). Subs Not Used: Turner, Williams, James.
Attendance: 2,755 (1,786)
