Milton Keynes Dons 1 - 4 Cardiff City

Milton Keynes Dons 1-4 Cardiff

Updated: September 21, 2004, 10:08 PM UK

Cardiff shrugged off their woeful league form and cruised to their first away win since April at Milton Keynes - winning 4-1 - to offer under-fire boss Lennie Lawrence some welcome respite in the Carling Cup.

The Bluebirds had not won on their travels since a 2-1 victory at Gillingham late last season and with only one win so far this term they lie second from bottom in the Championship.

But a first-half brace from Peter Thorne and further goals from Lee Bullock and debutant Byron Anthony ensured a comfortable passage into the third round at the expense of Milton Keynes.

Cardiff gave early warning of their intentions with Thorne, Joel McAnuff and Alan Lee firing in shots on goal, home keeper Scott Bevan holding the latter's stinging volley in the 10th minute.

Then former Dons midfielder McAnuff swung over a 14th-minute corner that was headed home at the far post by Thorne.

Within five minutes Paul Parry created a second for the visitors, his pin-point cross from the left volleyed home right-footed by Bullock from close range.

And three minutes later Thorne grabbed his second to stun the Dons, thumping home right-footed in the penalty area following another sweeping move.

A minute later a shell-shocked Bevan hacked clear a close-range effort from Lee as Cardiff threatened to run riot.

It took MK Dons 28 minutes before they mustered a shot on goal when Allan Smart tested Neil Alexander from the edge of the area.

But the home side were reduced to 10 men after the restart when Frenchman Harry Ntimban-Zeh was shown a straight red card for his professional foul on Thorne.

Cardiff were in cruise control and with 20 minutes remaining defender Anthony scored on his first-team debut, heading home Parry's corner at the near post.

To their credit Stuart Murdoch's side battled on and were rewarded with a consolation goal when Izale McLeod fired his fifth of the season from the edge of the area.