Cardiff City 4, Livingston 0

Substitute Danny Ward scored his first Cardiff City goals in their convincing pre-season win against Livingston.

Scottish visitors Livi worked hard to contain the Bluebirds at Cardiff City Stadium, but Ward’s double plus one each from Junior Hoilett and Bruno Manga left them well beaten.

This was Cardiff’s fifth and final fixture before their Championship trip to Burton Albion next Saturday and there real signs that manager Neil Warnock’s team are gelling as a unit.

The team performance was easily the most flowing and decisive so far.

Winger Kadeem Harris, on for Hoilett after half-time, lasted only 16 minutes before he limped off with Matty Kennedy taking over.

Hoilett, making his first appearance in pre-season, shone for the Bluebirds during the first 45 minutes.

Canadian international Hoilett arrived back in the UK early this week after playing for his country in the Concacaf Cup and he ran Livingston ragged down the Cardiff left.

He set up a sharp chance after only seven minutes, darting to the byeline and driving in a low cross which Kenneth Zohore fired just wide.

Hoilett scored the only goal of the first half five minutes later when Zohore unselfishly slipped a pass across goal instead of shooting from a difficult angle. It was perfectly placed and Hoilett finished clinically.

Sean Morrison headed just wide from Hoilett’s corner, while Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, lunging to stretch out a leg in front of goal, only just failed to make contact from Hoilett’s cross.

Heavy rain made the surface slick and Hoilett seemed to relish the conditions.

The former Queens Park Rangers player certainly shone during the opening 45 minutes, but City could also reflect with satisfaction on what was the best team performance during pre-season.

There was an assured calmness about the Bluebirds, while their passing and movement was first class.

Livingston included former Cardiff goalkeeper Neil Alexander, who did the Ayatollah when he went off during the second half  and was warmly applauded by home fans.

The two young Livi players being monitored by manager Neil Warnock also featured from the start.

Matthew Knox went off at half-time, replaced by Joshua Mullin, while Danny Mullen maintained his attacking role for more than 70 minutes.

The Bluebirds made three changes for the second half with Ward, Harris and Manga replacing Zohore, Hoilett and Halford.

Manga took over from Halford at right-back and City stick with their four-man back division.

Ward was denied by a full length save by Alexander, but he scored from a cross by Harris after 57 minutes. Ward started the move with a pass out to Harris, who took a touch before picking out Ward’s run to the far post.

Alexander managed to block Ward’s first effort, but the striker forced the ball into goal to make it 2-0.

Ward added his second and Cardiff’s third just after the hour when attacking full-back Manga fired the ball in low. Livingston failed to track Ward’s run and, with Alexander stranded, the striker was left with a simple tap-in.

Manga headed City’s fourth goal from Kennedy’s corner on 75 minutes.

Cardiff City: N Etheridge, G Halford (B Manga 46), S Bamba, S Morrison (capt), J Bennett, J Ralls, J Hoilett (K Harris 46, M Kennedy 62), N Mendez-Laing (J Richards 75), L Tomlin (A Pilkington 71), K Zohore (D Ward 46). Subs not used: B Murphy (gk), L Damour.

Livingston FC: N Alexander (G Maley 76), M Knox (J Mullin 46), A Lithgow (N Cadden 57), S Byrne, S Pittman (N Todorov 46), D Mullen (J Peters 73), K Jacobs (S Robinson 57), D Carrick, R De Vita (D Mackin 67), C Halkett, D Gallagher.

Referee: B Markham-Jones.

Attendance: 2,790.