The Bluebirds came from behind to defeat Stevenage 2-1 and end 2025 with three points at Cardiff City Stadium.
Second half goals from Callum Robinson and Yousef Salech gave City the victory.
Brian Barry-Murphy elected to make five changes to the side that beat Exeter City on Saturday. Will Fish, David Turnbull, Chris Willock and Robinson all returned to the starting XI with Nathan Trott also coming into the starting XI having recovered from injury.
It was the visitors who came close to scoring in the opening exchanges, as in the third minute, Harvey White’s deep free kick cannoned off the crossbar. It was then City’s turn to almost take the lead shortly after. A cross-field pass from Fish was controlled well on the chest of Salech, who looked for the far corner with the shot, but the effort flew narrowly wide.
The Bluebirds kept control of possession throughout the first half. And after moving the ball into a dangerous area, a cross from Joel Bagan took a touch off a defender, with Turnbull reacting quickly, aiming to guide the ball on target, however the effort went just over.
Further efforts to break the deadlock from City went near. A curling effort from Willock flew wide, and a Salech header was claimed by keeper Filip Marschall as the scores remained goalless at the break.
The Boro took the lead shortly before the hour mark, as Pheonix Patterson cut in from the left wing and found the far corner with his effort.
City almost responded immediately. A cross was delivered into a dangerous area in the box, with Salech meeting the cross but his header was aimed into the ground and bounced wide.
After 64 minutes, City were level. Following some lovely build up play, with Omari Kellyman playing in Ronan Kpakio on the overlap, whose cross found Robinson in the area. The striker had his shot blocked off the line but steered straight back to him, making no mistake second time around.
The hosts maintained the pressure, with the ball again crossed towards the far post, but with Kellyman this time looking to nod home, his effort was blocked by the Stevenage defence. City took the lead in the 82nd minute, as the ball was played out to Willock on the left wing, whose effort was intended for the far corner, deflected off of Salech and into the Stevenage net.
The visitors had the ball in the net as we approached stoppage time, but skipper Carl Piergianni handled the ball before putting his effort into the net.
After gaining another victory at home, next up for City is a trip to Wycombe Wanderers on January 1st, 2026, with a kick-off time of 3pm.
FINAL SCORE: CARDIFF CITY 2-1 STEVENAGE
Cardiff City: Trott, NG (Kpakio 60’), Fish, Chambers ©, Bagan, Wintle, Turnbull (Robertson 83’), Robinson (J.Colwill 86’), Davies (Kellyman 60’), Willock (Tanner 83’), Salech. Subs Not Used: Turner, Lawlor.
Stevenage: Marschall, James-Wildin, Houghton (Pattenden 77’), Piergianni ©, Kemp (Thompson 69’), Goode, Freestone, White, Reid (Young 83’), Lubala (Malcolm 69’), Patterson (Campbell 69’). Subs Not Used: Ashby-Hammond, Earley.