Snapshot: A Bluebirds eleven may be joint top of the Championship going into the weekend, but on Tuesday night a squad made up largely of reserve players were found wanting to their League Two opposition. The Bees of Barnet deservedly took the spoils in the Carling Cup with a goal in each half to disappoint the small crowd present.

After the Bluebirds missing some early chances, the first goal for the visiting squad who had upset Bristol City and Plymouth last year was presented via a hopefully quickly forgotten howler from Michael Howard, who cleared a nothing ball to the path of Tresor Kendol. The resulting chip was well taken, but should have never have been allowed to occur.

Then, ten minutes into the second half Kendol struck again, though this time via well taken header leaving the Bluebirds all at sea. Dave introduced Paul Parry and Joe Ledley late on, but their efforts were unable to turn the tide; the cohesion from the Championship version of the Bluebirds was not to be found. The evening closed with no complaints at the result.

Richer Sounds FANS SMS Man Of The Match: Roger Johnson as voted by Gareth Lewis from Bryn Glas.

Gareth wins a DVD player for texting his MOTM to 88442. vote on Saturday to win yourself. Text the squad number as follows. eg. CARD9 for Steve Thompson

Team News: As expected, Dave had brought a number of new faces into his Carling Cup squad. With the main focus set to Saturday and the Championship, the opportunity to shine was to be presented to fringe and reserve Bluebirds.

First senior starts were given to Mark Howard, Willo Flood, Joe Jacobson, Chris Gunter, Luigi Glombard, Kevin Campbell and Nick McKoy. We also witnessed the first 2006/07 appearances of Kevin Cooper and Rhys Weston. In fact, the only City players to have notched a start out of the eleven on the field were Roger Johnson and Malvin Kamara.

Chronological Report: The opening ten minutes were well controlled by the Bluebirds, though there was admittedly a lack of a cutting edge to their play; perhaps based on being either cautious or the fact that the squad formation was completely new.

The first moment of note was after six minutes after Luigi Glombard managed to beat the offside trap that the Bees had clearly come here to play. IT was looking as if his effort to break was set to produce the opening goal, but one on one with the keeper his low shot across goal was dragged narrowly wide.

After twelve minutes the second chance came the way of the home side as a free-kick was well delivered and met by Roger Johnson at the back stick. With more composure the headed goal would have been a certainty, but with space the former Wycombe man directed the ball narrowly wide.

The Bees were working hard, but were unable to cause any real pressure to our defence; a back four including a centre-back partnership of Johnson and Weston.

After sixteen minutes Johnson could have netted again at the left post, but the corner in that was punched across the line by the 'keeper came to the defender with too much pace - his header wide.

The only incident as the minutes ticked away was a clash of heads between Glombard and Warhurst. The veteran was temporarily down and in need of attention, though after the care of the Barnet physio and a change of shirt he was ok to resume play.

The theme of the evening seemed to resemble a reserves outing more than match with something to play for, but the mood soon changed just after the half hour with an unfortunate and needless error from new 'keeper Howard.

The former Arsenal trainee will want to avoid the replays and will be keeping his head down from the potential banter aimed his way on the training ground in the coming weeks, as his twenty yard run out to clear the ball was directed straight to Tresor Kendol.

Our Barnet counterparts will surely credit the cool finish; and rightly so. But the gift from Howard to chip the stranded 'keeper was a cause for concern, giving the Bees an unlikely lead from their first 'chance'.

Cardiff 0 - 1 Barnet (Kendol. 31 mins)

The goal certainly lifted the spirits of our visitors, with Vieira trying his luck on Howard's from range minutes later.

The Bluebirds were looking a shadow of their senior counterparts, with only individual efforts from the likes of Flood to be taken as a positive going forward.

After thirty seven minutes the Irish Under 21 midfielder did well to create his own path through the Barnet defence, but his clever pass to the path of Gunter was smashed rashly with time and space. The head down effort was always going wide, and not what to be doing in front of the eyes of Dave Jones on a debut.

On the stroke of half time, Kevin Cooper was chopped down by Puncheon from behind; the returning winger down in pain as the rest of the players walked off. The referee however was the last to act, brandishing a yellow card to the Barnet player before what we expected would be a harsh interval for our Bluebirds reserves.

Half Time: Cardiff 0 - 1 Barnet

The only change after the break was the introduction of another reserve - Darcy Blake replaced Rhys Weston at the back to partner Roger Johnson.

The Bluebirds came out with more attack to their game, looking for an early break to find an equaliser.

Luigi Glombard looked to have been pulled back in the area four minutes into the half, though despite the calls from the home support, referee Penn gave nothing.

Thoughts of a City equaliser were smashed when on fifty three minutes Kendol took a cross from the right perfectly to add to his earlier opener. His header made hard work even more difficult as the Bees extended their lead, making the chances of a second round inclusion all the less likely.

Cardiff 0 - 2 Barnet (Kendol. 53 mins)

With chances remote, Dave introduced two of his senior players after the hour; Paul Parry and Joe Ledley came on for Malvin Kamara and Kevin Cooper after the hour.

Parry's introduction was immediate, as a ball came to him on the right, giving the chance to cut inside and try a shot from outside the box. The Bees keeper fumbled the effort and needed the assistance of his defender to save the day; clipping the ball out of play for a corner, almost conceding an own goal in the process.

The Bluebirds were full of individual industry, but as a unit they were sorely lacking and offered little to pressure the Barnet back line. With seven minutes the game was delayed as Joe Jacobson pulled up with what has been reported after the whistle as a calf injury.

The game continued to form, though almost gave the home support something to cheer after another individual Flood effort. His shot however wanted to be in keeping with the match and rebounded off the woodwork. With that there was nothing else to add. We may even offer a prize to anyone who has read this report this far.

Full Time: Cardiff 0 - 2 Barnet

Barnet progress to the second round of the Carling Cup