After a tentative opening 25 minutes it was the visitors who opened the scoring. Centre-back Dylan Lawlor was allowed to carry the ball well into Rovers' half unopposed and clipped the ball into Alex Robertson inside the area. He then held off the challenge of Owen Bailey and fired past Thimothee Lo-Tutala from a narrowing angle.
Prior to that Lawlor did excellently at the other end of the pitch, producing a terrific, last-gasp tackle to deflect over Brandon Hanlan's fierce close-range strike. Rovers' attempts to get back into the game were thwarted almost immediately after half-time when Lawlor again stole the show and doubled City's lead. The defender picked up possession in his own half and waltzed through a clutch of Rovers players before finishing smartly.
A third arrived just afterwards when Cian Ashford tapped in from close-range after Rubin Colwill picked him out from the right-hand side of the box.
That effectively killed the game off and rendered the last half-hour little more than an exhibition - although there was still time for substitute Callum Robinson to get in on the act and nab a fourth.
Here's how we rated the Rovers players:
1. Thimothee Lo-Tutala 5
Not much blame lied at his door for the goals. Kicking was a bit hit-and-miss. Photo: Jonathan Gawthorpe
2. Jamie Sterry 3
Pulled apart at times by Cardiff's busy and interchangeable forward line. Formation change on the hour didn't aid him and then salt was rubbed in wounds when he gave up the ball for Cardiff to score a fourth late on. Photo: Howard Roe/AHPIX LTD
3. Jay McGrath 4
Loose moments aplenty and won't be happy with his role in the second or third. Especially the third, when he failed to stop Rubin Colwill's centre from the edge of the box. Off before the 60-minute mark. Photo: Howard Roe/AHPIX LTD
4. Neill Byrne 4
Not a day to remember. One of many shown up for the second goal as Lawlor waltzed his way through the Rovers team. Hooked along with McGrath before the hour mark. Photo: Howard Roe/AHPIX LTD