Report by SJG

LEAGUE DIVISION ONE

CARDIFF CITY vs WIGAN ATHLETIC

 4^th January 2026

NEGATIVE LATICS MINDSET TO THE FORE AS BLUEBIRDS SOAR.

Wigan Athletic fell to their first defeat of the calendar year at Cardiff City on Sunday afternoon and you could be forgiven, given the scoreline, for thinking it was a tight affair but in truth it was a very one-sided game with Latics defending bravely but offering little at the other end of the park. Former Arsenal and England defender Calum Chambers showcased his top-flight pedigree as his first-half wonder strike was the difference between the two sides as Cardiff strengthened their grip at the top of the Sky Bet League One table.

It was always going to be one of the toughest challenges of the season for the Tics, facing the Sky Bet League One leaders in their own backyard but after a hectic holiday programme it looked like tired legs had sapped the Wigan forward line as they succumbed all to readily to their classy opponents.                       

The trip to the Wales National Team Stadium saw Ryan Lowe make one change from New Year's Day, with Academy graduate Tobias Brenan coming in for Harrison Bettoni. Cardiff made three changes to the side that faced Wycombe Wanderers last time out, with Chambers, Joel Bagan, and Cian Ashford coming into the starting XI.                                                                            

The hosts were searching for an eighth consecutive win at the Cardiff City Stadium, having won their last seven on home soil, their best run since 2012 and they forced the first opportunity in the second minute, when a corner was cleared into Chambers' path, with his sweetly struck volley being grasped at full stretch by Sam Tickle.                                                                              

Cardiff controlled the possession throughout the encounter, and the lively Chris Willock was given freedom to cut inside and shoot from 18 yards out, losing his balance and ultimately lashing his strike just over the frame of the goal.                                                                                      

Tickle had to come to the rescue again with 16 minutes on the clock. He denied Omari Kellyman twice in a matter of moments, the first the pick of the bunch, getting down low to push the attacker's goal-bound strike past the post.                                                                                                                                               

Against the flow of the game Latics almost broke the deadlock two minutes later. Fraser Murray raced onto Dara Costelloe's flick-on, held off Ng and saw his prodded strike pushed wide of the post by opposition goalkeeper Nathan Trott.                                                                                  

After threatening in the early stages with a shot from range, CHAMBERS opened the scoring from a similar position in the 24th minute, arrowing a strike from 25 yards out into the top corner. The Bluebirds were looking to strike again and continued to dominate but Latics' back three were resolute and restricted the goalscoring opportunities to a minimum.                          

Five minutes before the break, Kellyman had a third opportunity. Cian Ashford took a touch inside Raphael and cut it back to the Chelsea loanee, who miscued his strike inside the 18-yard box.                                 

Half Time; Cardiff City 1-0 Wigan Athletic.                                                                                          

Asamoah was introduced at half-time for Latics, replacing Brenan, with Lowe's men hoping to utilise the striker's pace on the transition. It was a quiet start to the second half, with Cardiff content to keep possession and limit Lowe's men from creating opportunities of their own. With 70 minutes on the clock Latics survived a huge scare as Salech headed Ashford's cross over from point-blank range. Cardiff suddenly produced a flurry of attacks with Tickle producing two outstanding saves to keep the deficit down to one. First, he tipped substitute Callum Robinson's prod wide of the post, before he somehow backpedalled to claw Robertson's dipping, deflected strike out of the goal.                                                                                                      

Despite Latics bringing on Callum McManaman, Christian Saydee and Bettoni in the final stages, Cardiff saw out the game and condemned Latics to their first defeat of 2026.               

Full Time; Cardiff City 1-0 Wigan Athletic.                                                                                                                                                      

Scorers; Chambers (34).                                                                                                 

Attendance; 18,174

Wigan Athletic (3-5-1-1) --- Tickle; Aimson, Carragher, Fox; Murray, Weir, Francois, Brenan, Raphael; Wright, Costelloe; Subs--- Savin (G), Asamoah (for Brenan), Saydee (for Costelloe), Bettoni (for Wright), McManaman (for Weir), Sessegnon, Hungbo.

Cardiff City (4-2-3-1) ---- Trott; Ng, Lawlor, Chambers, Bagan; Wintle, Robertson; Willock, Kellyman, Ashford; Salech; Subs--- Fish (for Lawlor), Tanner (for Ashford), Robinson (for Kellyman), Turnbull, Colwill, Davies, Kpakio.

Referee; Mr. Will. Finnie (Bedfordshire).,