NAT’LL DO FINE FOR STARTERS
NATHANIEL MENDEZ-LAING blasted Cardiff into early season orbit.
The striker grabbed the Bluebirds’ second goal after skipper Sean Morrison had headed them into a first-half lead.
Summer freebie Mendez-Laing has made a red-hot start to the season with three goals in as many games.
Cardiff piled on all the early pressure brimful of confidence after two wins in two with no goals conceded.
Full-back Jazz Richards smashed a shot against the bar as manager Neil Warnock saw his side take a grip on the game against his former club.
Sheffield United keeper Jamal Blackman denied Junior Hoilett before in-demand Kenneth Zohore missed a great chance just past the half-hour mark
The Danish striker was put through by Aron Gunnarsson but slotted wide of the far post.
It looked like Cardiff might go into the break frustrated but skipper Morrison came to their rescue in the 44th minute.
The centre-back was left free by the Blades at a corner and rose to head powerfully past Blackman. After the break, United striker Billy Sharp swung at a cross from the right but fired his volley just wide. Cardiff kept up the tempo at the start of the second half and almost grabbed a second through Lee Tomlin. Zohore’s initial shot was blocked but Tomlin smashed the rebound high and wide from eight yards out. Slowly, United began to get a foothold and they created space for Paul Coutts to fire in a shot which Neil Etheridge did well to hold. But the pressure did not last long and they went 2-0 down in the 55th minute thanks to a brilliant Mendez-Laing strike. The former Rochdale man cut inside from the left and unleashed a blistering shot from the edge of the box to leave Blackman helpless. Minutes later, Zohore almost made it three but his 20-yard free-kick was tipped away by the on-loan Chelsea shot-stopper.