Cardiff City maintained their spot at the top of Sky Bet League One with a 1-0 victory at home against Exeter City.
City boss Brian Barry-Murphy elected to make two changes from the side that started against Lincoln City last weekend. Captain Calum Chambers and Isaak Davies returned to the XI, with Will Fish and Chris Willock making way, respectively.
The Bluebirds made the faster start to the contest and produced two chances in quick succession. Alex Robertson’s free kick from distance was tipped round the post by Joe Whitworth, and from the resulting corner, the keeper scooped the ball off the line.
Davies was the next to go close. The winger muscled his way into the box but saw his low drive saved by Whitworth. The Exeter keeper had to be on hand again minutes later to keep the scores level, this time making a full stretch save to keep Omari Kellyman’s deflected shot out.
The travelling Grecians didn’t test the Bluebirds back line tremendously, but the City defence was forced to scramble the ball away from a corner, while Matt Turner palmed away Jayden Wareham’s strike, as the first half ended goalless.
Despite a quiet first half, the league leaders broke the deadlock eight minutes into the second. Dylan Lawlor’s chipped ball over the top found the run of Robertson, who had beaten the offside trap and proceeded to tuck the ball home to hand City the advantage.
Buoyed by their opener, Barry-Murphy’s men set out to try and find a second. A flowing attacking move ended with Robertson laying the ball off into Cian Ashford’s path, but his shot hit the post. Yousef Salech was on hand to try and convert the rebound, but he was denied by a flying save from Whitworth.
Exeter struggled to break down the blue wall in front of them in search for an equaliser. However, in stoppage time, the ball fell to Reece Cole in the area, but his volley flew over the bar, as City held on to seal all three points and stay top of the table.
It’s a quick turnaround for the Bluebirds as they’re next in action on Monday, December 29th against Stevenage. Kick-off for the game at Cardiff City Stadium is at 7:45pm.
FINAL SCORE: CARDIFF CITY 1-0 EXETER CITY
Cardiff City: Turner, Ng (Kpakio 80’), Lawlor, Chambers, Bagan, Wintle, Robertson (J. Colwill 79’), Kellyman (Turnbull 79’), Ashford (Fish 90+6’), Davies (Willock 57’), Salech. Subs not used: Tanner, Robinson.
Exeter City: Whitworth, Niskanen, Sweeney, Fitzwater, Woodhouse, McMillan, Doyle-Hayes (McDonald 80’), Brierley (Oakes 80’), Aitchison (Mendes Gomes 80’), Higgins (Cole 65’), Wareham. Subs not used: Bycroft, Swinkles, Francis.