The Bluebirds took on Mick McCarthy's Wolverhampton Wanderers at Ninian Park this afternoon as they looked to maintain and even extend their lead at the top of the Coca Cola Championship.
There were no injuries in City's squad so Dave Jones unsurprisingly kept faith with the same starting 11 that beat Southend United so convincingly last weekend with the substitutes being unchanged also.
Mick McCarthy also picked the same starting 11 that had comfortably beaten Stoke City at Molineux a week ago but he was also able to put Jay Bothroyd and Jamie Clapham on the bench, the two missing the 2-0 win through injury.
Cardiff City: Alexander, Gilbert, McNaughton, Purse ©, Loovens, Parry, McPhail, Scimeca, Ledley, Thompson, Chopra. Subs: Johnson, Flood, Glombard, Campbell, Flood.
Wolverhampton Wanderers: Murray, Edwards, Breen, Craddock ©, Mulgrew, Ricketts, Olofijana, Henry, Potter, Clarke, Johnson. Subs: Bothroyd, Clapham, Davies, Little, Ikeme.
Jemal Johnson of Wolves had the first shot of the match after a minute but his effort was easily saved by Alexander. The Bluebirds were able to put pressure on the visitors in the early stages and had two half chances, Parry's header was weak and easily saved and Chopra's ambitious effort from 25-yards flew over the bar. The City striker had a better sight of goal after 15 minutes but his fierce shot was well saved by Matt Murray in the Wolves goal.
After the early half chances the match became somewhat of a stalemate with neither side able to create any clear-cut chances. However the game was turned on its head after 25 minutes when Gary Breen was given a straight red card by the referee for lashing out at Thompson off the ball. Soon afterwards the Bluebirds were forced into making a change, the injured McNaughton being replaced by Malvin Kamara who came on in his accustomed right wing role. Parry switched to the left wing with Ledley dropping to full back.
From the moment Breen was sent off on City were able to get on top of their opponents and on 40 minutes Scimeca made the crucial breakthrough when he headed homePaul Parry's corner. It was a good finish by Scimeca although Wolves will be left wondering why the midfield man was left all alone in the area.
There were no more chances before the break and the Bluebirds went into the break with a one goal advantage.
Half Time: Cardiff City 1 - 0 Wolves
After just six minutes of the second half the Bluebirds doubled their lead. A cross from the left seemed to have been dealt with by Mulgrew but his header hit fellow central defender Craddock and flew past the helpless Matt Murray.
Mick McCarthy made a double substitution soon afterwards in a bid to change the match, bringing on Bothroyd and Davies for Ricketts and Johnson but after 70 minutes the game was made safe by a Cardiff City substitute, Kamara. Scimeca put the winger through on goal and he beat Murray with a fine finish with the outside of his right foot.
Two minutes later Wolves nearly pulled a goal back through Olofijana but Alexander made a fine reflex save from close range as the midfielder tried to lob him. There was another scare soon afterwards when Craig Davies had a free header in the area but the front-man put his header wide when he should have done better.
Any hopes that Wolves had of getting back into the match were put to bed on 79 minutes when City scored their fourth. Chopra was released down the right and his low cross fell to Paul Parry who took a touch before firing the ball into the top corner with his right foot.
There was still a chance for Chopra to score a deserved goal soon afterwards but he miscued from six-yards with the goal at his mercy. Flood also went close in the final stages but was denied by a great last-ditch tackle as the Irishman went to shoot.
This great win for the Bluebirds sees us extend our lead at the top of the table to five points after other results went their way. There is now a two week International break before the next League match, away at Crystal Palace.
Final Score: Cardiff City 4 - 0 Wolverhampton Wanderers
