REPORT: CARDIFF CITY 0-1 WIGAN ATHLETIC
Match Reports
29th October
REPORT: CARDIFF CITY 0-1 WIGAN ATHLETIC
A cruel late winner saw Wigan Athletic take three points at Cardiff City Stadium, with Neil Warnock’s side suffering their first defeat in four matches.
BLUEBIRDS BUILD FROM THE BEGINNING
City’s first clear-cut chance of the match came after only six minutes. From an out-swinging corner Peter Whittingham’s delivery was met by the head of Anthony Pilkington, with Wigan ‘keeper Ádám Bogdán doing well to hold onto the powerful effort. Shortly afterwards, Pilkington forced another Bogdán save, following a mazy run into the box. From the resulting Whittingham corner, Sol Bamba powerfully attacked the ball, only to see it blocked off the line.
Minutes later, a flowing move swept City deep into the Wigan half, with Craig Noone finding Pilkington in the box. He laid the ball off to the advancing Joe Ralls, before a Wigan block curtailed any further advances from the Bluebirds.
END TO END ACTION
The interval seemed to provide the visitors with a new lease of life, with Wigan beginning the second half in promising fashion. A shot from Will Grigg was deflected by Sean Morrison, bouncing narrowly wide of the post. Jake Buxton went close from the subsequent corner kick, heading just wide.
After his goal at the City Ground, Aron Gunnarsson went close with a fine effort. The midfielder’s powerful shot seemed to catch everyone out, including Bogdán, who managed to stop the stinging effort with a late single-handed block. From outside of the area, rifled efforts from Whittingham and Joe Bennett looked promising, but failed to trouble the Wigan stopper.
WIGAN TAKE THE POINTS
As the game entered the final ten minutes, a Cardiff corner was aimed towards Sean Morrison, who headed wide. Despite the attacking intentions of the home team, it was the Latics who stole the winner with four minutes remaining. David Perkins’ burst into the box saw him control the ball and slide it across goal. Waiting in the middle was Jordi Gomez, who stabbed home.
City launched forward in a desperate attempt to steal a point, with Bamba having a golden opportunity. The ball fell to the defender in the box, only for him to unfortunately smash it over the bar. In the dying seconds, the final opportunity fell to left-back Bennett, who was denied by a brilliant Bogdán block. The final whistle signaled an undeserved defeat for Neil Warnock’s men, who head to St. James’ Park in a week’s time.
FULL TIME: CARDIFF CITY 0 – 1 WIGAN ATHLETIC
Cardiff City: Amos, Peltier, Morrison, Bamba, Bennett, Whittingham (O’Keefe ’72), Gunnarsson, Ralls, Noone (Immers ’84), Hoilett (Harris ’72), Pilkington.
Subs not used: Wilson, Manga, Richardson, Chamakh.
Wigan Athletic: Bogdán, Warnock, Burn, Buxton, Burke, Perkins, Gomez, Jacobs (Knoyle ‘90+4), Wildschut (Byrne ’56), MacDonald, Grigg (Davies ’73).
Subs not used: Jaaskelainen, Flores, Woolery, Morgan.
