Cardiff City outclassed AFC Wimbledon to maintain their
four-point lead at the top of League One and extend the gap between themselves
and the chasing pack outside the automatic promotion spots.
Joe Colwill powered the free-flowing Bluebirds in front with
a sweet first-time strike from Alex Robertson's low corner, only for substitute
Matty Stevens to equalise in first-half injury time.
Cardiff reasserted their dominance with two goals in three
second-half minutes. Perry Ng headed in from Ollie Tanner's corner before
returning the favour with a pass for Tanner to score with a smart turn and
finish.
Omari Kellyman added a late fourth as he collected a pass
from substitute Callum Robinson and confidently rolled a shot into the bottom
corner.
Brian Barry-Murphy's side are now unbeaten in 12 games, with
this their eighth victory during that time.
Second-place Lincoln City kept up their pursuit of the Welsh
club by beating Northampton Town, but Bolton Wanderers' draw at Reading means
the third-place Trotters are now 12 points adrift of Cardiff.
The end of Wimbledon's mini-resurgence of a three-match unbeaten run sees them drop down one position to 16th in the table.
Analysis: Cardiff turn on style to avoid second Wombles
upset
Despite the 27 points and 12 league places separating the
teams at the start of the game, Bluebirds knew not to take their opponents
lightly – not after losing 5-1 against them here in the EFL Trophy in December.
However, that was a much-changed Cardiff side and, with an
almost entirely different line-up on this occasion, this league encounter bore
little resemblance to that cup meeting.
The hosts were quickly into their stride, attacking fluently
and creating several early chances, the pick of which saw an intricate passing
move end with right-back Ng shooting wide.
An opening goal for Cardiff already felt inevitable by the
time it arrived in the 22nd minute, with Robertson deliberately dragging a low
corner to the edge of the penalty area, where Colwill did not need to break
stride before lashing the ball in at the near post.
Wimbledon's equaliser came against the run of play as
Stevens, only on nine minutes, volleyed in unmarked from Steve Seddon's
free-kick on the stroke of half-time.
That proved to be a mere aberration. Within 16 minutes of
the restart, Cardiff were two goals up thanks to Ng's second in as many games
and Tanner's instinctive finish.
Other than the odd flicker of a threat from the visitors –
with Seddon heading against a post late on - the league leaders were in total
control, as exemplified by Kellyman's assured finish for their stylish fourth
goal.
Cardiff City: Trott, Ng, Fish, Chambers, Bagan,
Wintle, Robertson (Turnbull 65’), J. Colwill (R. Colwill 65’), Tanner (Robinson
74’), Willock (Ashford 65’), Kellyman (Scanlon 90’). Subs Not
Used: Lawlor, Kpakio.
AFC Wimbledon: Bishop, Ogundere, Johnson,
Seddon, Tilley, Maycock (Bauer 74’), Smith (Nelson 86’), Hippolyte (Reeves
74’), Nkeng, Browne (Hackford 74’), Bugiel (Stevens 37’). Subs Not
Used: McDonnell, Asiimwe.
