Report: Ashley James

Defensive frailties once again reared their ugly heads at Ninian Park to ensure that two goals; one each for Robbie Fowler and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink still weren't enough to guarantee a home win for the Bluebirds.

Quite expectedly for two sides featuring so much footballing talent the match opened at a furious pace producing three good scoring chances within the opening ten minutes. Firstly Wolves striker Andy Keogh struck a snap shot from the edge of the area after controlling the ball well on his chest; thankfully the effort sailed into the welcome arms of Michael Oakes. It was a clear signal of intent from the visitors.

Minutes later City captain Darren Purse was presented with an almost identical opportunity; Alex Rae nodded a corner back across goal which Purse took on his chest and volleyed his shot narrowly over. Cardiff continued to press and after 8 minutes really should have had the lead.

A quickly taken free-kick on half-way was played along the floor up towards Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink whose step over allowed the ball to run directly into the path of Robbie Fowler who, clear through on goal dragged his left footed finish agonisingly wide of the far post.

With Cardiff now seemingly on top the inevitable struck and Wolves took the lead; Jay Bothroyd's surging run was halted at the edge of the City box, though Rae's tackle pushed the ball directly into the path of Andy Keogh on the right who calmly squared the ball across the face of goal for the arriving Michel Kightly to literally slide the ball home.

Cardiff City 0 - 1 WOLVERHAPTON WANDERERS (Kightly 14mins)

Just as everyone around Ninian Park began feeling sorry for themselves the Bluebirds upped the urgency and were soon level with Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink heavily involved. In the build-up a hopeful ball up-field saw the Dutchman engaged in a promising race with the two Wolves centre-backs - however, young Welsh 'keeper Wayne Hennessey read the situation well and charged way out of his area to seemingly avert the danger.

From the resulting throw-in a Tony Capaldi cross was nodded down in traffic by Hasselbaink and onto the chest of Joe Leedey, who shaped to shoot, but instead cut inside Wolves midfielder Karl Henry who brought Joe down with his trailing leg for the penalty. Fowler stepped-up to take the spot-kick despite a clear vocal enquiry from Hasselbaink - Robbie obviously eager to atone for his earlier miss. The penalty was calmly dispatched side-footed into Hennessy's bottom right-hand corner.

CARDIFF CITY 1-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers (Fowler pen 24mins)

The next four minutes were not the most enjoyable for the travelling Wolves supporters firstly the saw former Goalie Michael Oakes clatter Andy Keogh in a heavy but fair challenge which saw the Irish striker come off worse and then on 29 minutes Cardiff took the lead. Kevin McNaughton charged forward up the right hand touch line; his pass found Paul Parry who squared the ball to Fowler inside the area and his first touch lay-off fell to an un-marked Hasselbaink to slot the ball home in the bottom left-hand corner. Hasselbaink finally had his goal and Fowler had more than made amends for his earlier miss.

CARDIFF CITY 2-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers (Hasselbaink 29mins)

The last chance of the first-half fell to the visitors but Michael Oakes parried the ball well down to his left from a Jay Bothroyd shot after Stephen McPhail had given the ball away cheaply on the edge of the area.

HALF TIME: CARDIFF 2 - 1 WOLVES

Half-Time Wolves substitute: Stephen Ward for Darren Gibson

The second-half began just as the first had, with matching efforts at either end. Firstly Kightly drove a shot harmlessly wide from 25-yards out and then Rae responded for Cardiff with a rasping shot that was directed straight at a grateful Hennessey.

Wolves substitute: 50mins Freddie Eastwood for Andy Keogh

The exciting looking Eastwood's first involvement came in the form of a mazy run on the right of the Cardiff box which turned Capaldi inside and out before both Purse and Glenn Loovens combined to block the adopted Welshman's cross come shot attempt.

Cardiff looked obviously nervous in their efforts to defend a lead and sat far too deep, far too early which only invited pressure from the visitors. The danger signs were there for all to see when on the hour mark some neat interplay by the Wolves midfield found Seyi Olofinjana un-marked in the box who powered a shot from point-blank range that was well stopped by Oakes who was un-aware that the linesman's flag had already been raised for off-side.

Cardiff didn't learn their lesson and 6 minutes later saw Wolves draw level; Michael Kightly penetrated the Cardiff area with a powerful run, kept his feet under heavy defensive pressure and prodded the ball past an out-rushing Oakes.

Cardiff City 2 - 2 WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS (Kightly 66mins)

Cardiff substitute: 67mins Steve Thompson for Robbie Fowler

The goal rocked Cardiff who continued to look uncomfortable in possession and soon found themselves a goal down and with all of their good first-half work in vain. Visiting captain Jody Craddock found himself unmarked in the box and rose high to steer a corner into the top right-hand corner for the easiest of headed goals.

Cardiff City 2 - 3 WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS (Craddock 73mins)

Cardiff substitute: 74mins Steven MacLean for Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink

As the game drew to a close Cardiff created very little in the form of an equalising chance but were very nearly gifted a point by Wolves right-back Kevin Foley whose sloppy defensive header was directed wide of its intended recipient Hennessey, and left the 'keeper scrambling for the loose ball as it headed goalward.

The closing moments bore more than a passing resemblance to the climax of Sunday's game at Southampton with Cardiff throwing everything forward in a desperate attempt to salvage a point from a game and winning position which should have provided all three.

In fact were it not for the heroics of Welsh number one Hennessey then the points would definitely have been shared as he justified his recent adulation with a string off important stops. Firstly a stunning save off a Steve Thompson half-volley from distance, secondly blocking a scrambled effort from McNaughton after a Paul Parry free-kick had squeezed through the defensive wall and fell dangerously in the box; finally and perhaps more fortunately Alex Rae once again struck a thunderous effort straight at him.

Wolves substitute: 88mins Darren Potter for Jay Bothroyd

Cardiff's final slim chance came and went with a stern penalty attempt for hand-ball; Oakes up from the back headed a clearance from a corner back into the box and when the ball fell to Thompson he struck a shot goal-ward which the Scottish striker claimed had struck an orange arm, the referee disagreed and Cardiff were once again left to ponder a frustrating, disappointing loss.

FULL TIME: CARDIFF 2 - 3 WOLVES

Cardiff: Oakes, McNaughton, Purse, Loovens, Capaldi, Parry, McPhail, Rae, Ledley (Sinclair 83), Fowler (Thompson 67), Hasselbaink (MacLean 74). Subs Not Used: Forde, Johnson. Goals: Fowler 25 pen, Hasselbaink 29.

Wolverhampton: Hennessey, Foley, Craddock, Darren Ward, Neill Collins, Kightly, Olofinjana, Gibson (Stephen Ward 46), Henry, Bothroyd (Potter 89), Keogh (Eastwood 50). Subs Not Used: Little, Stack. Goals: Kightly 13, 66, Craddock 74.

Ref: Paul Taylor (Hertfordshire)