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Cardiff’s 12-match unbeaten run ended after being hammered 5-2 by Plymouth

Cardiff’s 12-match unbeaten run has been ended after being hammered 5-2 by Plymouth in League One on Saturday afternoon.

The Bluebirds had their promotion push dented by a heavy defeat, their first loss of 2026, opponents Argyle leading 3-2 at the break, before eventually making sure of victory after the break, despite having as little as 25% possession at times.

Cardiff remain top of the table, though their four-point lead at the summit has been cut to just one after second-place Lincoln beat Mansfield.

Meanwhile, it’s quite the turnaround for the Pilgrims, the 8th of November saw them bottom of League One. But after their last winning three league games in a row for the third time in three months, Plymouth move to within three points of the top six.

Cardiff boss Barry-Murphy said, per BBC Sport: “It’s a very disappointing result for us, naturally, but we have to take it on the chin.

“We controlled the game in the early exchanges, but we weren’t at our best and, when Plymouth broke, they looked dangerous.

“We needed to be better. Our mindset was to push forward at all times but when the penalty came it was difficult for the players. No issue with the players’ attitude whatsoever.

“Well done to Plymouth and good luck to them. They’re a powerful team and put the ball into forward areas very quickly. They scored from two breakaways when we looked like scoring. We didn’t deal with that well enough and that’s ultimately what cost us the game.

“We’ll work as we always do and try to bounce back. Our focus is always the next game and to remain consistent.

“The players have been very calm all season. They don’t get carried away when we’re doing well and they won’t get carried away when it hasn’t gone our way.

“The players have not been affected by doing well. They’ve remained very humble when we win and it will be the same after a loss.”

Plymouth’s Tom Cleverley said, per Plymouth Herald: “Outstanding performance. I’m so proud of the players they went toe-to-toe with the league’s best and come out on top in every department.

“It was a really difficult moment when Kellyman sticks one in the top corner at 3-2, and that’s why they are top of the league. They have got players who can create moments in really tight games out of nothing.

“The mentality we showed after that, coming up against the top side who would be confident and mentally resilient, to then be the team to kick on and really put the game to bed, it was a complete performance. I’m so proud of the players that the hard work they are putting in is being rewarded.

It was a brave performance. We knew we were really on the front foot today and you lose a duel, lose a one-v-one, then that can cause an issue.

“A couple of times that happened, we got punished for it once, but I thought the turnovers and what that created for us going the other way was worth the risk. The players executed it to a T and they deserve a lot of credit.

“The system change has been a big part of the success and getting our most productive players on the pitch. To create as many chances as we did, I actually think Caleb Watts might have had the best chance of the game bar the penalty, it’s pleasing.

“The team performance is summed up by you have got two players who have scored two goals and neither of them are man-of-the-match and I think that’s where we were at as a team today.

“I spoke to the players about there was some expectation behind us today. I felt that, I seen it. We are not expected to turn up here and give it a good go, we are expected to turn up here and win today, and they delivered with that extra bit of pressure.”

“It was one of those afternoons where you get a few shivers down the back of your neck. It’s not easy as a coach when the players can’t hear you but you know you have created an atmosphere when I’m shouting at the top of my voice and the players can’t hear.

“We are creating something, I feel like the club is in a good place, we are really connected to one another and that’s through hard work, togetherness and on the field doing the basics really well.

“From there, there is lot of quality and other things but they are the fundamentals we need to keep delivering.

“We are one game at a time mentality and now we switch competitions with an opportunity to show the best version of ourselves again and potentially create history for this football club. We are one step at a time and fully focused on Luton.”

Here’s the social media reaction with Cardiff’s 12-match unbeaten run ended after being hammered 5-2 by Plymouth…

@_cobibudge: What a fantastic performance. Cardiff weren’t poor, you could see that they had quality all over the pitch. But we pressed them to death and ultimately we had too much for them. Three wins, twelve goals, all in the space of a week. Conor Hazard was exceptional today. Tolaj and Pepple scored a brace each but Hazard made three outstanding saves at pivotal moments which were just as important. He also maintained complete control over his six yard box. Give the man some credit. #pafc

@CcfcOK1: Every good team has an off day, as long as we show a reaction next week. Plymouth absolutely deserve this win, much better side on the day. I’m sure the Lincolnshire referee is delighted with the result and his awful decisions though. 😆

@bobbankvillage: Love you BBM but the tinkering at CB has to STOP

@olpafc_: Fair bloody play. Playoffs are well and truly on and this team is bang up for it.the shift from the bleakness pre Xmas to now has been monumental. Massive statement win that is, and a huge shift from everyone. Onto Rotherham, you beautiful greens. #pafc

@extravelservice: Haven’t seen us play like that in a while. We got battered by a better team. We move on….

@JakePrice1927: Shambles at the back all game. Plymouth the better side, fair doos to them. But how is a ref from Lincolnshire allowed to ref this game?

@brookxx01: Fair play to every one of those Cardiff fans, i know for a fact the moment it hit 4/5 goals a lot of people would’ve been out if it was a different fan base but the vast majority are all still here 👏 #pafc #ccfc

@neddthomas: Massive off day for us, can’t complain with 5-2. Unbeaten run had to end at some point but annoying with a poor performance like that. Not going to overreact because it’s just an off day, but have to bounce back next week #CardiffCity #Bluebirds #CityAsOne

@jm_bell95: Let’s not allow the scoreline to blur facts, Cardiff City didn’t play poorly. Argyle have produced the best home performance for quite some time. Argyle seemingly at times wanted it more than the #Bluebirds. Quite unbelievable #pafc #CityAsOne #CardiffCity

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