Championship
CardiffCardiff City1HullHull City0

Cardiff City 1-0 Hull City

By Michael PearlmanBBC Wales Sport
Sol Bamba beats Hull goalkeeper Allan McGregor with his header
Sol Bamba beats Hull goalkeeper Allan McGregor with his header

Cardiff City kept the pressure on Championship leaders Wolverhampton Wanderers with a narrow win over Hull City.

The Bluebirds' unbeaten home league record looked under threat in a poor first half, but the hosts were good value for a hard-earned three points.

Sol Bamba's header gave them a lead they never looked like relinquishing.

Neil Warnock's side are four points behind Wolves, while Hull remain 19th, five points above the drop zone.

Not a classic

This contest will not be remembered as a classic but it was another hugely important win for Neil Warnock's side, who continue to defy pre-season expectations.

The Bluebirds had failed to keep a clean sheet against Hull in their eight previous meetings, but were rarely troubled on this one despite heading into the contest without nine first team players.

In a disjointed first period, both sides squandered their best opportunities, which were few and far between.

Almost everything positive from the hosts came from Lee Tomlin, with the ex-Bristol City forward twice forcing Allan McGregor to parry efforts from just outside the penalty area, with Tomlin blasting over the bar with his best chance.

Cardiff's aerial route

The visitors' efforts were even scarcer, but despite their paucity of chances they did strike the woodwork when Nouha Dicko found space in the penalty area, but he could not beat the narrowest of angles with the ball striking the post.

The Bluebirds started the second period on the front foot, but Junior Hoilett just missed out with the ball inches away from his head after Bamba headed Joe Ralls' free-kick back across the face of goal.

The aerial route was proving to be Cardiff's best route and from a Tomlin cross, Anthony Pilkington flicked the ball to Bamba who buried it from close range.

There was plenty of time for Nigel Adkins' side to mount a comeback, but substitute Seb Larsson's wayward long range effort was the closest they came as the Bluebirds comfortably held on.

Indeed, only a superb block from skipper Michael Dawson denied Tomlin the chance to add gloss to the finish, as the Bluebirds demonstrated fully why they have won every game this season in which they have scored first.

Line-ups

Cardiff

Formation 4-3-3

  • 25Etheridge
  • 2PeltierSubstituted forPatersonat 82'minutes
  • 5Ecuele Manga
  • 14BambaBooked at 51mins
  • 3Bennett
  • 7TomlinSubstituted forHalfordat 83'minutes
  • 8Ralls
  • 20Damour
  • 19Mendez-Laing
  • 13PilkingtonSubstituted forBogleat 68'minutes
  • 33Hoilett

Substitutes

  • 12Feeney
  • 15Halford
  • 16Connolly
  • 18Paterson
  • 28Murphy
  • 30Bogle
  • 37Healey

Hull

Formation 4-2-3-1

  • 1McGregor
  • 29Tomori
  • 21Dawson
  • 3Mazuch
  • 34Aina
  • 5Hector
  • 16Larsson
  • 11ToralSubstituted forBowenat 64'minutes
  • 4Irvine
  • 7Grosicki
  • 9DickoSubstituted forDiomandeat 67'minutes

Substitutes

  • 12Marshall
  • 14Diomande
  • 20Bowen
  • 23Luer
  • 24Clark
  • 26Olley
  • 27Clackstone
Referee:
Scott Duncan
Attendance:
18,049

Match Stats

Home TeamCardiffAway TeamHull
Possession
Home52%
Away48%
Shots
Home12
Away11
Shots on Target
Home4
Away2
Corners
Home3
Away2
Fouls
Home10
Away12

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Cardiff City 1, Hull City 0.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Cardiff City 1, Hull City 0.

  3. Post update

    Hand ball by David Junior Hoilett (Cardiff City).

  4. Post update

    Omar Bogle (Cardiff City) wins a free kick on the right wing.

  5. Post update

    Foul by Ondrej Mazuch (Hull City).

  6. Post update

    Joe Bennett (Cardiff City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  7. Post update

    Foul by Jarrod Bowen (Hull City).

  8. Post update

    Attempt missed. Sebastian Larsson (Hull City) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right.

  9. Post update

    Attempt saved. Ondrej Mazuch (Hull City) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner.

  10. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Jarrod Bowen (Hull City) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

  11. Post update

    Foul by Greg Halford (Cardiff City).

  12. Post update

    Jackson Irvine (Hull City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  13. Substitution

    Substitution, Cardiff City. Greg Halford replaces Lee Tomlin.

  14. Substitution

    Substitution, Cardiff City. Callum Paterson replaces Lee Peltier because of an injury.

  15. Post update

    Foul by Omar Bogle (Cardiff City).

  16. Post update

    Michael Dawson (Hull City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  17. Post update

    Delay over. They are ready to continue.

  18. Post update

    Delay in match Lee Peltier (Cardiff City) because of an injury.

  19. Post update

    Attempt missed. Sebastian Larsson (Hull City) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Adama Diomande.

  20. Post update

    Corner, Cardiff City. Conceded by Ondrej Mazuch.

As It Stood

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Wolves22163342172551
2Cardiff22145333161747
3Bristol City22127336231343
4Derby22125535211441
5Aston Villa2210752920937
6Sheff Utd2212193427737
7Leeds2211383426836
8Ipswich2211293732535
9Preston229852622435
10Middlesbrough229582822632
11Nottm Forest22100123237-530
12Fulham227872728-129
13Brentford2261063330328
14Reading227692828027
15Sheff Wed226972627-127
16Norwich227692128-727
17Millwall226882422226
18QPR226792533-825
19Hull2257103740-322
20Barnsley2256112434-1021
21Sunderland2239102738-1118
22Burton2245131440-2617
23Bolton2237122141-2016
24Birmingham2244141132-2116
View full Championship table

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