Match ends, Cardiff City 2, Bolton Wanderers 0.
Cardiff City moved within a point of the Championship automatic promotion places with an efficient win over Bolton Wanderers.
Armand Traore's first goal for the club and a headed rebound by Sean Morrison gave the hosts a 2-0 half-time lead.
They coasted through the second half, Bruno Ecuele Manga almost adding a third with a header against the bar.
Bolton limply accepted their fate and remain in 19th place, two points above the relegation zone.
Cardiff stay fourth in the table, level on points with Derby in third place and one behind Aston Villa in second.
Perhaps of equal significance is the increased strength of the Bluebirds' hold on a play-off spot, nine points clear of seventh-placed Preston.
This result also extended Cardiff's unbeaten run in the Championship to five games, an impressive response to a December wobble which had seen them lose four consecutive league matches.
Neil Warnock's men made an assertive start against a Bolton side themselves unbeaten in three fixtures.
Callum Paterson's long throws were Cardiff's weapon of choice, one setting up Morrison for a header well saved by Ben Alnwick before another fell to Traore, whose shot on the turn looped into the far corner to give the former Arsenal left-back his first goal since 2014.
The Bluebirds struck again from a set-piece shortly before half-time, this time a free-kick from Joe Ralls swung in towards Morrison, whose initial header was saved before he nodded in the rebound.
This was rudimentary football, but it was effective.
In fairness to the hosts, they did not need to produce an exhilarating display against a passive Bolton side who rarely ventured out of their own half with much intent.
The visitors almost fell further behind from yet another set-piece after the interval, as Ecuele Manga headed Junior Hoilett's free-kick against the crossbar.
Hoilett himself was the next to threaten, skilfully rounding Alnwick but seeing his shot from an acute angle blocked by Mark Beevers.
Those misses proved to be inconsequential as Cardiff strolled to victory with almost embarrassing ease.
Cardiff City manager Neil Warnock said:
"I thought we were professional. These are always difficult games but I'd said to the lads we had to be strong, not give anything away because if we went a goal down to these it would be hard work.
"But I thought we were very thorough at the back and obviously took our chances. They were two good goals: the great finish for Armand [Traore] and then the bravery of [Sean] Morrison to get the second typifies him as captain."
Bolton Wanderers manager Phil Parkinson said:
"I thought Cardiff played very well. We were second best in that first period and in the basic things in the game, which we're normally good at.
"But we weren't as good as we needed to be against a team we know can overpower sides.
"You need to stand strong against them, like we did at home [when Bolton won earlier this season]. Tonight we didn't do that as well and got punished."
Line-ups
Cardiff
Formation 4-3-3
- 25Etheridge
- 2Peltier
- 4Morrison
- 5Ecuele Manga
- 32Traore
- 18Paterson
- 24Grujic
- 8Ralls
- 33HoilettSubstituted forBambaat 88'minutes
- 10ZohoreSubstituted forPilkingtonat 84'minutes
- 29WardSubstituted forWildschutat 13'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Bennett
- 12Feeney
- 13Pilkington
- 14Bamba
- 20Damour
- 28Murphy
- 35Wildschut
Bolton
Formation 3-5-2
- 13Alnwick
- 4Dervite
- 32BurkeSubstituted forWheaterat 45'minutes
- 5BeeversBooked at 43mins
- 22Morais
- 17DerikSubstituted forCloughat 69'minutes
- 24Henry
- 6Vela
- 15Robinson
- 9Le Fondre
- 10AmeobiSubstituted forWalkerat 86'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Little
- 3Taylor
- 8Karacan
- 19Walker
- 31Wheater
- 33Howard
- 40Clough
- Referee:
- Tim Robinson
- Attendance:
- 16,013
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home50%
- Away50%
- Shots
- Home24
- Away4
- Shots on Target
- Home11
- Away0
- Corners
- Home4
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home11
- Away16
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Cardiff City 2, Bolton Wanderers 0.
Post update
Foul by Sol Bamba (Cardiff City).
Post update
Adam Le Fondre (Bolton Wanderers) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Attempt missed. Anthony Pilkington (Cardiff City) left footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Yanic Wildschut following a fast break.
Post update
Attempt missed. Marko Grujic (Cardiff City) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left following a set piece situation.
Post update
Anthony Pilkington (Cardiff City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Dorian Dervite (Bolton Wanderers).
Substitution
Substitution, Cardiff City. Sol Bamba replaces David Junior Hoilett.
Post update
David Junior Hoilett (Cardiff City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Karl Henry (Bolton Wanderers).
Substitution
Substitution, Bolton Wanderers. Tyler Walker replaces Sammy Ameobi.
Post update
Foul by Anthony Pilkington (Cardiff City).
Post update
David Wheater (Bolton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Yanic Wildschut (Cardiff City).
Post update
Mark Beevers (Bolton Wanderers) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Substitution
Substitution, Cardiff City. Anthony Pilkington replaces Kenneth Zohore.
Post update
Attempt blocked. David Junior Hoilett (Cardiff City) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Kenneth Zohore.
Post update
Kenneth Zohore (Cardiff City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Foul by David Wheater (Bolton Wanderers).
Comments
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You know, one of the 12 founder members of the league who played Villa in the first ever league match. Still the 9th most successful club in England despite winning no major trophies since 1980. Small clubs like Chelsea have overtaken them since...
Their owners are also VERY rich and if they get up finishing 17th won't be their target.
@5 what utter rubbish..Cardiff are nothing but a bunch of hoofers and thugs.🐑🐑🐑🐑 "
After all these years, do you English STILL have nothing better to offer than the sheep reference? Hate to break it to you, but we've heard that one before.
You sound very jealous and obviously know very little of the history of football let alone Wolves.
Wolves
Villa
Cardiff
Derby
Sheff Utd
Preston
"Wolves do not deserve promotion and their place should be given to Cardiff ". "All Wolves do is get promoted and relegated so whats the point in them going up just for them to come back down the following season. Shocking club who have been relegated so many times it's embarrassing."
Cardiff- relegated in 100% of their Premier League seasons.
Cake and eat it = hate the English but like their money ?
Swansea are in it because in 1992 they declined the FAW's offer to play in their own country's league.