The Bluebirds extended their winning home league run to eight matches with a dominant display on Sunday afternoon.
Brian Barry-Murphy brought Joel Bagan, Cian Ashford and skipper Calum Chambers back to the starting line-up, replacing Gabriel Osho, Ronan Kpakio and Joel Colwill from New Year’s Day’s match against Wycombe Wanderers.
The hosts came out of the blocks quickly, registering their first shot on target in just the second minute. Perry Ng’s cross on the right flank was cleared, but only as far as Chambers, who tested Latics keeper Sam Tickle with an early save.
The effort set the tone for the match, with the Bluebirds constantly looking threatening in the Wigan half. After some neat play from Ng and Ashford on the right wing, Omari Kellyman turned away from his marker well and let fly from just inside the area, forcing Tickle to action again as he pushed behind for a corner. In the next phase of play, Kellyman tested Tickle again, with the 'keeper opting to punch the danger clear on this occasion.
Meanwhile, Nathan Trott had to remain alert in the City goal. With Ng under pressure in the box, Trott reacted sharply to make an important save to deny Fraser Murray with their sole effort on target before the break.
Normal service then resumed as Alex Robertson found a yard of space in the box, striking directly at James Carragher and winning a corner. The resulting cross was whipped in, with Chambers getting the flick towards the back post towards Dylan Lawlor, who was agonisingly close to tapping home if not for Tobias Brenan there to clear off the line.
The breakthrough was deservedly found after 24 minutes, as Chambers struck his effort beautifully into the top corner from 25 yards out to put City into the lead.
Possession continued to come for the hosts, and with it, chances. Ashford produced a brilliant touch to control a long ball towards him, putting him beyond the defending Raphael. He laid the ball off to Kellyman on the edge of the box, who aimed for the far corner but saw the effort skip wide.
City began the second half as they did the first, dominating possession and threatening the Wigan goal. Robertson swung in a dangerous corner, which took a deflection towards Kellyman, who flicked it on but the Wigan defence again able to get it away.
With City looking to double their advantage, they continued pressure around the box. Ashford drifted from his wing down the left this time, moving swiftly away from Carragher to chip the ball towards the back post towards Yousef Salech, however the ball was just away from his reach and headed over the bar.
A run from substitute Callum Robinson in behind the defence was found by Ng, who shot across the face of the Wigan goal but steered away again by Tickle. Ollie Tanner then delivered a testing cross across the face of goal shortly after, which took a deflection off of a Wigan defender and flew close at the far corner.
Despite going near, City were unable to convert their dominance of the game into a second goal, but another vital three points extended their winning run at home in the league.
Next up for the Bluebirds is a trip to Leyton Orient on Saturday, January 10th, with a kick-off of 3pm.
Cardiff City: Trott, Ng, Lawlor (Fish 84’), Chambers, Bagan, Wintle, Robertson, Kellyman (Robinson 72’), Ashford (Tanner 72’), Willock, Salech. Subs Not Used: Kpakio, J. Colwill, Turnbull, Davies.
Wigan Athletic: Tickle, Fox, Carragher, Aimson, Murray, Weir (McManaman 90’), Brenan (Asamoah 46’), Francois, Raphael, Wright (Bettoni 90’), Costelloe. Subs Not Used: Savin, Sessegnon, Hungbo, Saydee.