Match ends, Cardiff City 0, Wolverhampton Wanderers 1.
CardiffCardiff City0WolvesWolverhampton Wanderers1
Wolverhampton Wanderers won their third match in a row with a 1-0 win at 10-man Cardiff City to move to within two points of the play-off places.
Bakary Sako's low shot finished off a Wolves first-half counter-attack to put the visitors ahead.
Bluebirds midfielder Peter Whittingham was sent off in the second-half after two bookable offences.
Defender Richard Stearman cleared the ball off the line in injury-time as Cardiff pressed for an equaliser.
Wolves came into the match having thrashed Rotherham and Fulham 5-0 and 3-0 respectively in their last two Championship matches.
The Bluebirds meanwhile were unbeaten in their previous five matches.
They welcomed owner Vincent Tan to the ground for the first time since they were relegated from the Premier League last season.
The Malaysian, who sported a blue shirt, saw his side start brightly without creating any clear-cut chances.
Midway through the first half, as Cardiff continued to push forward, Wolves launched a devastating counter-attack at pace.
Dutch midfielder Rajiv van La Parra beat two defenders before his pass found Sako just inside the box, the Mali international firing home his 11th Championship goal, low into the corner of the net.
Cardiff's came closest to scoring in the half through Aron Gunnarsson, who headed the ball narrowly over the crossbar following Wolves goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak's clearance punch.
After the break, a mix up between Cardiff's Gunnarsson and Sean Morrison saw the ball break to Benik Afobe eight yards from goal, but the Wolves striker failed to beat goalkeeper David Marshall.
Moments later the Bluebirds were down to 10 men after Whittingham received a second booking, for a lunging challenge on Wolves defender Matt Doherty.
Despite their numerical disadvantage Russell Slade's side continued to press for an equaliser and former Stoke striker Jones powered a header narrowly wide from a Gunnarsson cross.
Matthew Kennedy fired a shot wide of the Wolves goal from inside the box and in injury-time Stearman cleared Jones' goal-bound header off the line.
Cardiff manager Russell Slade:
"The owner was very pleased and he thought we were unlucky. He spoke to the players before the game and I have spoken to him afterwards and he was happy with what he had seen.
"We deserved something from that and the changing room is a bit down and we will have to do some work picking them up.
"Losing Peter Whittingham seemed to galvanise us and we had a couple of chances which on another day might have gone in."
Wolves manager Kenny Jackett:
"You can only look at your own form but we have goals and spirit in this team and those are things we can capitalise on.
"Your own performance level is everything and it is still there for us. It is possible to go on a run of eight or nine wins out of 10 and you have to believe we can do it.
"This run is coming at the right time for us and we want it to continue because it is giving us a very good opportunity.
"This is a big club, as Wolves we are always looking to be up there and we will keep going."
Line-ups
Cardiff
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Marshall
- 2Peltier
- 5Ecuele Manga
- 36Morrison
- 16Connolly
- 30KennedySubstituted forRevellat 79'minutes
- 17Gunnarsson
- 7WhittinghamBooked at 65mins
- 11Noone
- 13DoyleSubstituted forMcAlenyat 63'minutes
- 9Jones
Substitutes
- 14Macheda
- 15McAleny
- 18Adeyemi
- 21Ralls
- 22O'Keefe
- 29Revell
- 33Moore
Wolves
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 29Kuszczak
- 33IorfaBooked at 7minsSubstituted forDohertyat 61'minutes
- 6Batth
- 5Stearman
- 30Hause
- 11McDonaldBooked at 74mins
- 19Price
- 17van La ParraSubstituted forDickoat 59'minutes
- 4Edwards
- 10Sako
- 12AfobeSubstituted forEbanks-Landellat 88'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Doherty
- 3Golbourne
- 7Henry
- 13McCarey
- 14Evans
- 23Ebanks-Landell
- 40Dicko
- Referee:
- Robert Madley
- Attendance:
- 21,165
Match Stats
Home TeamCardiffAway TeamWolves
- Possession
- Home47%
- Away53%
- Shots
- Home16
- Away8
- Shots on Target
- Home4
- Away3
- Corners
- Home3
- Away5
- Fouls
- Home9
- Away13
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Cardiff City 0, Wolverhampton Wanderers 1.
Post update
Kevin McDonald (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Lee Peltier (Cardiff City).
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Attempt missed. Sean Morrison (Cardiff City) header from a difficult angle on the left is too high. Assisted by Kenwyne Jones with a cross following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Cardiff City. Conceded by Richard Stearman.
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Attempt blocked. Kenwyne Jones (Cardiff City) header from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Conor McAleny.
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Foul by Dave Edwards (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
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Conor McAleny (Cardiff City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Ethan Ebanks-Landell replaces Benik Afobe.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Alex Revell (Cardiff City) header from the centre of the box is blocked.
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Tomasz Kuszczak (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Kenwyne Jones (Cardiff City).
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Foul by Matt Doherty (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
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Conor McAleny (Cardiff City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Attempt missed. Bakary Sako (Wolverhampton Wanderers) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Jack Price.
Substitution
Substitution, Cardiff City. Alex Revell replaces Matthew Kennedy.
Post update
Benik Afobe (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Lee Peltier (Cardiff City).
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
