Eli Phipps’s second-half goal saw Cardiff City to a deserved 1-0 victory over a strong Town U23s side featuring Teddy Bishop, Jonny Williams and Luke Varney at Portman Road.
Gerard Nash’s team started in an attacking 4-2-3-1 system with Bishop and Andre Dozzell behind - from the left - Ben Morris, Williams and Shane McLoughlin with Varney the lone striker.
Cardiff were the first side to threaten in the fourth minute when right-back Dylan Rees cut a dangerous ball across Dean Gerken’s six-yard area but no one was there to add the final touch.
The Bluebirds continued to present the greater threat and on 10 Tommy O’Sullivan hit a powerful strike from distance which Dean Gerken tipped onto the bar and over.
Town eventually cleared a Cardiff attack after several attempts on 14, left-back Myles Kenlock intercepting Marco Weymans’s low shot. Three minutes later, Rees shot wide from distance on the right.
A minute later, Williams broke away on the right and hit a low shot which Cardiff keeper Luke O’Reilly claimed.
But the visitors were still on top and on 21 a slick passing move ended with O’Sullivan turning Eli Phipps’s right-wing cross just beyond the far post. A minute later, O’Sullivan crossed from the byline on the left but beyond his team-mates.
The visitors again came close to going in front on the half hour when, after good work from O’Sullivan, Phipps twisted and turned and found himself space in the box before hitting a well-struck shot which Gerken saved down to his left. The loose ball fell to Weymans but his effort on goal deflected just wide off Kenlock.
On 36 Belgian U19 international Weymans hit a spectacular shot on the volley from a cross from the left straight at Gerken.
Town made their best chance of the half in the 39th minute when, after Morris and Williams had cleverly exchanged passes on the left, right-back George Fowler crossed deep from the right and Morris headed down and into Cardiff keeper O’Reilly’s arms at the far post.
A minute before the break Macauley Southam flicked a header wide from a Rees right-wing cross.
Shortly before the whistle, Rees and O’Sullivan both saw efforts blocked and Southam scuffed through to Gerken.
The home team were fortunate to go in level at the break with the visitors having been much the better side, creating virtually all the chances with the Blues looking particularly vulnerable on the break.
Town’s attacking players had been very quiet, while Bishop and Dozzell struggled to gain control of the midfield.
Cardiff’s Robbie Patten twice shot over from distance in the opening minutes of the second period.
On 56 Phipps hit an effort which was too high, then after a wayward clearance from Blues centre-half Chris Smith, the Cardiff number nine scraped wide from the edge of the box.
Just before the hour, Gerken saved Phipps’s clever flick from Rhys Abbruzzese’s cross from the left with the visitors continuing to have the better chances, despite the Blues having improved since the restart.
The Bluebirds finally got their noses in front in the 62nd minute. Dozzell was caught in possession on halfway, the impressive Weymans tricked his way into the area and cut the ball to his left to Phipps, who turned it past Gerken from eight yards.
With 21 minutes remaining Kundai Benyu replaced Morris, who had had a quiet game, starting out on the left before moving to the right. McLoughlin was by now playing down the centre with Varney on the left and Williams on the right with Benyu in behind.
On 71 Williams claimed a penalty as he went to ground as he went past Cardiff sub Rollin Menayese, but referee Ian Rathbone wasn’t interested.
Town briefly put the Bluebirds under a spell of pressure for the first time but without creating a serious chance before Monty Patterson took over from McLoughlin.
Dozzell picked up the game’s first yellow card for a foul as Cardiff broke as the match moved into its final 10 minutes.
The Bluebirds threatened again on 82 when Southam crossed from the right and O’Sullivan turned the ball to Gerken, who saved.
Cardiff were reduced to 10 men for the final five minutes, injury forcing off Patten with all their subs having been used.
Late on, Bishop screwed a shot well wide and the Town youngsters, with manager Mick McCarthy and his assistant Terry Connor watching from directors’ box, never really looked like getting back on terms.
Cardiff played well throughout and deserved their win. Had they finished more clinically - and Gerken hadn’t been on his mettle - their margin of victory would have been more comfortable.
Williams and Varney were both on the periphery throughout - with Cardiff keeper O’Reilly having a quiet evening - while Bishop and Dozzell were more involved after the break but without ever taking charge.
Town: Gerken, Fowler, Kenlock, Dozzell, Digby, C Smith (c), McLoughlin (Patterson 74), Bishop, Varney, Williams, Morris (Benyu 69). Unused: Webber, Wright, Blanchfield.
Cardiff: O’Reilly, Rees (Wharton 64), Abbruzzese, Baker, Blaise (Menayese 64), James (c), Southam, Patten, Phipps (Welch 74), O’Sullivan, Weymans. Unused: Byrne.