Southampton 2-0 Cardiff City: Adam Armstrong double for Saints

Southampton extended their unbeaten run in the Championship to 11 games as Adam Armstrong's two goals helped them outplay Cardiff City at St Mary's.

Saints were 2-0 up after just 15 minutes, with the first goal an exquisite finish from Armstrong after a flowing team move which started in their own penalty area.

His second came via a close-range header and he missed with another golden opportunity to complete his hat-trick.

Che Adams had a goal disallowed for offside and substitute Joe Aribo hit the post as the hosts racked up the chances against a Cardiff side who sank without trace.

Southampton remain fourth in the Championship table, keeping pace with those above them following wins for Leicester City, Ipswich Town and Leeds United.

Cardiff, meanwhile, fall to 11th but are still only three points adrift of the play-off places.

Southampton came into this fixture as one of the division's most in-form teams after Wednesday's 1-0 win against Bristol City had made it 10 games without defeat.

However, Saints boss Russell Martin was frustrated by an issue which has blighted his team all season: that their dominant performance was not reflected by the scoreline.

Indeed, before facing Cardiff, Southampton had only led by more than one goal for a total of 95 minutes across 19 games this season.

There would be no such problems this time, though, as Martin's men played with a purpose and style which suggested they were determined to make their superiority count.

They opened the scoring after 10 minutes with a goal in the image of Martin's coaching ideals, starting all the way back with goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu and featuring incisive passing from several players before Armstrong curled a beautiful left-footed finish into the far corner.

Five minutes later, Southampton and Armstrong each had a second as Stuart Armstrong's cross deflected and looped up for namesake Adam to nod into the net from close range.

The hosts were in total control, whereas Cardiff could barely keep hold of the ball and were fortunate not to be further behind when Armstrong squandered a chance to seal his hat-trick as he headed straight at Bluebirds keeper Alex Runarsson from an inviting position.

Erol Bulut's side eventually created a chance on the cusp of half-time when Karlan Grant blazed over just two yards out with a half-volley from Perry Ng's cross.

Southampton kept possession with the ease of a team strolling through a training session, and they had a goal disallowed as Adams strayed into an offside position before finishing off a cross.

There was still a flicker of life in Cardiff, as Grant showed with a surging run from his own half and a shot which went narrowly wide, but this was a comfortable afternoon for Saints.

They had further chances to extend their lead, as Aribo's low 20-yard shot clipped the outside of the post and fellow substitute Ryan Fraser went close.

And while Martin may have wanted a few more goals to better represent his side's dominance, this was an accomplished display from Southampton which underlined their promotion credentials.

Southampton manager Russell Martin told BBC Radio Solent:

"It was a really top performance I think. We should have scored a lot more goals than we did but it was a really convincing, dominant, aggressive and energetic performance.

"I'm really delighted with the players and proud of them because to do that for the third game in a week is difficult.

"We started so well and then the game was played at a bit of a slow tempo. It's our job [as coaches] to be demanding and maybe we shouted at them a bit too much at half-time, but in the second half we were just amazing."

Cardiff manager Erol Bulut told BBC Radio Wales:

"In the first 20 minutes we conceded two goals and we should have been more sharp and aggressive.

"After that, we were more aggressive. OK, they had chances but, for an opponent with that quality, it is normal. We had to take risks.

"We created some chances but generally the first 20 minutes I did not like. The rest was better but we need quality against opponents of this level.

"Generally against teams like that with high quality - Leeds, Leicester, West Brom - you need quality to finalise your actions when you create chances. This is a small problem we have up front."