Cardiff City began 2026 with a point on the road at Wycombe Wanderers on New Year's Day.
Brian Barry-Murphy welcomed Ronan Kpakio, Gabriel Osho, Dylan Lawlor, Joel Colwill, Alex Robertson and Omari Kellyman into the starting XI for the trip to Adams Park. Isaak Davies was rested, while Joel Bagan missed out on the squad through injury, with Perry Ng moving across to left-back.
His side came out of the blocks rapidly on New Year's Day, and had the lead inside six minutes. Chris Willock, who was instrumental in the final game of 2025 in helping see off Stevenage, went from provider to goal scorer this time around. The winger cut in from the left and curled at goal, with a small deflection helping the effort beat Will Norris in the Wycombe Wanderers net.
The home side's first effort towards goal came after 12 minutes with Luke Leahy curling off target. They gained momentum following this long-range effort, but the Bluebirds back line showed their strengths.
City could have taken a two-goal advantage after 21 minutes. After Alex Robertson's strike was initially blocked, the ball fell to Joel Colwill in front of goal. He struck it superbly, but it cannoned out off the crossbar.
Barry-Murphy's side were punished for missing chances when in control as the hosts levelled the match with half an hour gone. Caolan Boyd-Munce with the goal directly from a corner kick.
The hosts had their best spell of the first half following the equaliser, but the Bluebirds quickly took control of the flow of the game again. Ryan Wintle and substitute David Turnbull attempted to put City ahead again, but the Chairboys held out for the remainder of the opening half and seven minutes of added on time.
The second half began in a similar fashion to the first with City dominating the ball and looking to find an opening. Yousef Salech headed over from a good position 53 minutes into the match. Turnbull saw an effort at close range kept out three minutes later while first half goalscorer Willock curled wide moments later.
It was all Cardiff City in the first 20 minutes of the second half, and after being unable to retake the lead, BBM looked to the substitutes bench for creative input. Ollie Tanner, Cian Ashford and Callum Robinson were all introduced in one go.
Two of the introduced men very nearly combined for a second City goal. Tanner found Robinson, who did well to beat his man and get a shot away, but it was cleared off the goal line after beating the goalkeeper.
Tanner was determined to make an impact and he delivered in the 85th minute for forward Salech, but his header was also cleared by an opposition defender on the goal line. Substitute Calum Chambers went for the spectacular in added time but saw his curling effort drift just wide.
City wouldn't want to have settled for a point and their performance throughout the 90 was certainly deserving of all three, but that wasn't to be. The Bluebirds starting the year with a point on the road.
FINAL SCORE: WYCOMBE WANDERERS 1-1 CARDIFF CITY
Wycombe Wanderers: Norris, Harvie, Hagelskjær, Casey, Grimmer (Allen 28'), Leahy, Boyd-Munce, Quitirna (Huggins 65'), Mullins, Onyedinma, Woodrow (Fink 82'). Subs Not Used: van Sas, Tilley, Taylor, Lowry.
Cardiff City: Trott, Ng, Lawlor, Osho (Chambers 75’), Kpakio, Wintle, Robertson (Turnbull 28'), J.Colwill (Robinson 67'), Willock (Tanner 67'), Kellyman (Ashford 67'), Salech. Subs Not Used: Turner, Fish.