Cardiff City arrived in Wigan riding high after a midweek win over Premier League side Burnley, and their confidence showed from the outset. Brian Barry-Murphy’s side dominated possession and tempo, with Perry Ng and Rubin Colwill combining effectively down the right flank.
Ng had an early effort blocked, and Ryan Wintle forced a fine save from Wigan keeper Sam Tickle with a powerful 25-yard strike. The breakthrough came in the 17th minute when Ng’s low cross took a wicked deflection off Matt Smith and wrong-footed Tickle to give Cardiff a deserved lead.
Wigan, still reeling from a 4–1 defeat to Bolton and a Carabao Cup exit to Wycombe, struggled to respond. Christian Saydee, back from suspension, linked up well with Paul Mullin, but their best chance—a fizzed cross from Mullin—just evaded Saydee and Callum Wright.
The Latics showed more intent after the break, with captain Jason Kerr heading over and substitute Dara Costelloe testing Cardiff keeper Nathan Trott. However, Cardiff’s backline, marshaled by Gabriel Osho, remained composed and compact.
Ng nearly doubled his tally with a left-footed strike from the edge of the box, but Tickle was equal to it. Rubin Colwill also went close late on, narrowly missing the far post.
In stoppage time, Cardiff sealed the win. Rubin Colwill played a clever through ball to substitute Yousef Salech, who was hauled down by Morgan Fox inside the box. Fox was shown a straight red card, and Salech calmly converted the penalty, sending Tickle the wrong way.
Wigan Athletic: Tickle, Fox, Aimson (McManaman 83'), Murray, Wright (Cooper 65'), Saydee (Raphael 83'), Mullin (Costelloe 65'), Trevitt (Adeeko 55'), Kerr, Smith, Hungbo. Subs Not Used: Savin, Sessegnon.
Cardiff City: Trott, Ng, Chambers (Lawlor 74'), Osho, Bagan, Wintle, J.Colwill (Turnbull 74'), R.Colwill, Ashford, Davies (Willock 64'), Robinson (Salech 64'). Subs Not Used: Turner, Fish, Kellyman.
