Cardiff 3-0 Port Vale

Rob Earnshaw celebrates scoring Cardiff's opening goal

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Cardiff cruised into the third round of the FA Cup with a home win over Port Vale after another top-class performance at Ninian Park.

Striker Robert Earnshaw opened the scoring after 16 minutes when he headed home his 10th goal of the campaign following an Andy Legg throw-in.

The recalled Gavin Gordon, given his chance thanks to Peter Thorne's injury, found the net four minutes after the interval following a hanging cross from Andy Legg.

Gavin Gordon was deadly from two yards out

Gordon had spurned several good opportunities to score, before a handling howler by Vale goalkeeper Mark Goodlad allowed the ball to drop at the Cardiff striker's feet two yards out.

Bluebirds boss Alan Cork replaced Gordon with Leo Fortune-West in the 71st minute and the big striker responded with City's third goal four minutes later after yet another Vale defensive error.

Brian Horton's side, struggling in the Second Division, had little to offer as an attacking force.

Cardiff, having stretched their unbeaten run to seven games, can now look forward to the draw for the next round, knowing they will provide a stern test for most teams at Ninian Park.

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Cardiff: Alexander, Gabbidon, Prior, Young, Legg, Boland, Bonner, Kavanagh, Bowen, Gavin Gordon, Earnshaw. Subs: Fortune-West, Maxwell, Low, Weston, Brayson.

Port Vale: Goodlad, Carragher, Burton, Rowland, Burns, Ingram, McClare, Cummins, O'Callaghan, Brooker, McPhee. Subs: Delaney, Dodd, Donnelly, Painter, Maye.

Referee: P Walton (Northants).