• League One leaders Cardiff City recorded their eighth consecutive home win with a dominant performance against Wigan Athletic at the Cardiff City Stadium.
• Latics were thoroughly outplayed by the Bluebirds who had 80 percent possession, forced 18 corners and had 17 shots.
• But due to the brilliance of Latics goalkeeper Sam Tickle and some resolute defending the Bluebirds only managed one goal.
• A superb 25-yard strike by Calum Chambers was ultimately the difference between the two teams.
• Latics are now in 15th place and the Bluebirds remain in first place in the League One table.

Ryan Lowe made one change from the starting line-up against Barnsley on New Year’s Day with Tobias Brenan replacing Harrison Bettoni.

The hosts dominated right from the kick off and they forced the first opportunity in the second minute, when a corner was cleared into Chambers’ path, his well struck volley had Tickle at full stretch.

Latics adopted a low block to try to counteract wave after wave of Cardiff attacks.

On 10 minutes Chris Willock cut inside and shot from 18 yards out but his strike flew over the crossbar.

Tickle had to deny Omari Kellyman twice on 16 minutes, the first getting down low to push the attacker’s goal-bound strike away and then producing quality save in the centre of his goal.

Latics only opportunity of the game came on 19 minutes when Fraser Murray picked up Dara Costelloe’s flick-on and toe-poked his strike towards goal but goalkeeper Nathan Trott did well to push his effort away.

Chambers made the breakthrough in the 24th minute, producing an unstoppable strike from 25 yards out into the top corner. 

Latics just couldn’t get a foothold in the game with the hosts dominating possession and forcing numerous corners as the visitors defended in depth.

On 41 minutes Kellyman had another opportunity. Cian Ashford cut the ball back to the Chelsea loanee, but his strike was just wide of the post.

Finally Alex Robertson fired wide of the target on 45 minutes after a first half totally dominated by the hosts.

Ryan Lowe made a change at half time, replacing Brenan with Asamoah Jr and moving to a 3-5-2 formation.

But the hosts started the second half as they had done the first, by controlling possession.

A Cardiff corner caused a scramble in the Latics box on 53 minutes and on 58 minutes Yousef Salech’s glancing header was narrowly wide of Tickle’s post.

Then on 70 minutes Salech had another great chance but he headed over from close range.

Tickle then produced a series of brilliant saves to deny the hosts. First, he tipped substitute Callum Robinson’s shot around the post, before he somehow backpedalled to claw away Robertson’s deflected strike from under the crossbar. 

Tickle then touched the ball away following a dangerous cross as the Bluebirds continued their onslaught. The Latics keeper made his final save from Ryan Wintle in the 90th minute to keep out the hosts, but it was all to no avail as Latics were unable to summon a late equaliser.

Overview

Latics were outplayed by a superior team and did well to keep the score to only 1-0. 

Lowe may be criticised by some fans for adopting a low block and trying to restrict the number of chances Cardiff could create, but if they had adopted a more expansive approach they would probably have been beaten by a much bigger score.

Lowe did go with two forwards in the second half but the Bluebirds grip on the game was so powerful that Latics just couldn’t create any chances.

Brian Barry-Murphy’s young team are by far the best team in League One and the difference in quality was there for all to see.

Latics are currently an average team in League One and it will require the recruitment of some better quality players if they are to make an advance into the top half of the table.

Latics have a good defence and goalkeeper, but unless they can recruit more creativity in midfield and a proven goalscorer they will continue to struggle in the lower reaches of League One. 

Post-match comments

Lowe had challenged his players to show more belief, especially when competing against teams at the top of the pyramid. 

“It’s disappointing,” he told the media.

“I thought the lads were resolute for large parts of the game. We knew we had to come here with a different game plan and stay in the game as long as we could.

“They (Cardiff) had large spells with the ball. We could’ve done better with the ball, as we turned the ball over too easily.

“We had a word with them at half-time, and brought another striker on because we felt we needed something in behind.

“The lads do a lot of hard miles and ground work with the distances they cover, and the blocks and defending they do, but I am asking for more with the ball.

“I said to the group that they need to believe in themselves more, and that they can have a little spell with the ball. 

“We know what Cardiff are about – they are a fantastic team, and the best in the division. Lo and behold, we were undone by a 30-yard screamer.

“I can’t fault the lads – the belief coming to these types of places is something we have to keep working on, and hopefully one or two bodies coming through the door can give the lads a lift.

“The lads don’t want to let the Football Club down. They are working their socks off to try and represent the Football Club well.

“I can’t fault the lads. They are doing everything that I am asking them to do, but they are getting punished by good teams and good players.”

Sunday marked the end of the festive period, an action-packed time of year which has seen Latics play five matches in the space of two weeks. The manager paid special tribute to the supporters for their backing over Christmas, and expressed how the players will debrief before heading into Friday’s Emirates FA Cup clash at Preston North End.

“It’s been tough. We’ve had three away games over the course of the Christmas period, and the fans have travelled in their numbers. 

“Thank you to the fans for that. It’s been hard for players, let alone the fans, getting up early and travelling.

“The players will have a recovery day tomorrow, and we’ll do some analysis work with them on Tuesday. 

“We’ll get some feedback from the lads on what they believe, and then we’re going into an FA Cup game, which takes the focus off the league a little bit.”

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