Cardiff City were resoundingly beaten 6-0 by Danish side FC Midtjylland as the Bluebirds began preparations for the start of the new Championship campaign.

Boss Brian Barry-Murphy named three academy graduates in the starting eleven, with Noah Williams, Paul Moreno and Jack Sykes all included, while Yousef Salech led the line and Alex Robertson captained the side.

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Midtjylland, who are preparing for a Europa League qualifier against Turkish side Besiktas later this month and are unbeaten in their opening five pre-season games, started the brighter of the two teams, who finished second in their respective leagues last season.

The Danish Cup champions led after 20 minutes when Harry Tyrer gifted the ball to Valdemar Byskov, before Franculino, who scored 17 times last season, doubled the lead as the Bluebirds were undone on the counter.

Viktor Bak added a third before the break, while Cardiff did threaten a response on the stroke of half-time, but Ollie Tanner’s powerful effort was straight at keeper Elias Olafsson.

Despite naming an entirely different side for the second half, including Callum Robinson in midfield and academy graduate Jac Thomas at left-back, Cardiff quickly fell further behind.

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Second-half substitutes Friday Etim and Mikel Gogorza were both left with the simplest of tap-ins before Junior Brumado headed home former Leeds full-back Rasmus Kristensen’s cross to cap a 6-0 victory for the visitors.

Cardiff face Cork City in their second pre-season friendly on Tuesday.