By Terry Phillips
Cardiff City 2, Wolves 1
Neil Warnock asked Lex Immers and Keiran Richardson to bring festive joy to Cardiff City Stadium.
By half-time, though, home fans were thinking: “Oh no, they can’t.”
The villains, called up for a rare City start, were despatched at half-time after one of the worst 45 minutes produced by the Bluebirds this season – and the heroes were beckoned on.
Manager Warnock turned to substitutes Craig Noone and Kenneth Zohore, who took over from Immers and Richardson.
There was rejoicing among the Bluebirds faithful as they realised there was a new and different pantomime message of: “Oh yes we can.”
The first half was poor, but Cardiff were transformed after the break. They had drive, purpose, intensity and came from a goal down to fire an 86th minute match winner thanks to Anthony Pilkington.
Zohore went on and added physical presence and hard work in attack, while Noone pulled Wolves defenders here, there and everywhere.
City were transformed from a team who looked down and out into a close-knit group who worked for each other. Peter Whittingham and Aaron Gunnarsson were tireless, attacking and chasing back to cover, while Bruno Manga stepped into the back four and brought the best out of captain Sean Morrison.
The loss of talisman Sol Bamba through suspension was a massive worry, but Manga turned on a Bamba-esque style display which made him man of the match on a night of celebration for home supporters.
Goals from Matt Connolly, a crisp header from Whittingham’s corner, and Pilkington, an accurately struck low drive from just outside the penalty area, earned Cardiff a win which means so much.
They now go into Saturday’s home match against Barnsley full of confidence. Bamba serves the second and final game of his suspension and it looks highly likely Warnock will stick with the team who finished this match.
City boss Warnock was calm and collected in the dressing room at half-time and made it clear to his players what was needed. He then took Zohore to one side and, in a one-to-one, chat asked the big striker what he wanted from his career.
The gaffer’s message was clear – this is your big chance, maybe your final chance.
Danish striker Zohore, a 22-year-old former FC Copenhagen and Odense forward, knows exactly what he wants as he led the line with a steely edge and added punch to an attack which had withered before the break. He grabbed his chance with relish – and held on tight.
Pilkington slotted in behind Zohore, who has edged ahead of Frederic Gounongbe in the chase for a place in the match day squad, and City suddenly looked dangerous going forward. A young Wolves team who had led from the wobbled and then collapsed.
That feeling of euphoria City players and fans had at the final whistle will be invaluable as they move forward with the aim of climbing the Championship table, particularly when Barnsley visit South Wales this Saturday.
Pilkington’s 86th-minute winner took the Bluebirds above Wolves in the table.
Irishman Matt Doherty had given Wolves a second-minute lead with a fierce strike from 20 yards, although goalkeeper Ben Amos should have done far better. He threw up an arm, but the powerful shot knocked it out of the way as it flew in.
No question. It was a goalkeeping error.
That was the first time Wolves had netted in the opening 15 minutes of a match this season. They became the 92nd and Football League team to do so.
Cardiff were vastly improved in the second half and right-back Matt Connolly headed in Whittingham’s corner after 69 minutes to make it 1-1.
Zohore was inches over with an acrobatic scissor-kick after a long throw was knocked down, but the winning goal for Cardiff was looking more and more inevitable.
It came on 86 minutes when Pilkington found space and fired home with a low shot from the edge of the penalty area.
The winner by ‘Pilks’ sparked massive celebrations around the stadium and sent the fans home happy.
Cardiff City (4-4-2): Amos; Connolly, Morrison (capt), Manga, Peltier; Gunnarsson, Whittingham (Ralls 88), Richardson (Zohore 46); Hoilett, Pilkington, Immers (Noone 46). Subs not used: Wilson, Bennett, Lambert, Harris.
Wolves (4-3-3): Burgoyne; Iorfa, Batth (capt), Stearman, Doherty; Edwards, Saiss, Saville; Costa (Teixeira 45), Dicko (Bodvarsson 76), Cavaleiro (Enobakhare 66). Subs not used: Flatt, Hause, Coady, Price.