By Terry Phillips
Cardiff City 1, Aston Villa 0
Neil Warnock’s Bluebirds produced the most complete team performance of his 13-match managerial reign and earned an outstanding victory against Aston Villa.
More than 21,000 spectators were at Cardiff City Stadium for a pulsating match which ended in Warnock’s fifth win since taking over in October.
He now has almost two weeks before the next Championship match, at Bristol City, and will hope to have added three or four new signings by then.
Joe Ralls fired the winner after 16 minutes, but City had to fight hard to ensure they took all three points.
Cardiff have conceded goals in the last six minutes of matches 11 times this season, but this time they saw it out by closing Villa players down, working consistently and staying strong for 90 minutes.
The win lifted the Bluebirds up to 19th in the Championship table.
Their next match is against Fulham at home in the FA Cup third round next Sunday (11.30am).
Warnock surprised opposition manager Steve Bruce with his Bluebirds team selection at Cardiff City Stadium.
When the team sheets were handed in an hour before kick-off Bruce, along with many of us, surely predicted a 3-5-2 formation with Sol Bamba, Sean Morrison and Bruno Manga forming the central defensive unit.
There was, though, a shock in store when City lined up with a back four protected by Bamba in a central midfield role.
Warnock had told Bamba: “Stop Jack Grealish creating.”
That tactic worked a treat during the opening 45 minutes with a frustrated Grealish unable to escape Bamba’s shackles.
The return of Bamba after suspension was a massive plus for Cardiff. His leadership qualities were clear as he barked instructions to fellow Bluebirds and ensured the Morrison/Manga/Bamba triangle stayed strong.
Communication was key for Cardiff as they closed Villa down quickly as a team and battled for every ball.
Grealish was a potent Villa threat when City lost 3-1 away in November, but this time he was forced to move into wide areas in his search for space.
The frustrated Villa man was booked for applauding referee Andy Davies as he clearly showed how much Bamba’s attentions were getting to him.
Cardiff full-backs Lee Peltier and Joe Bennett both did well, while Kadeem Harris hugged the touchline and terrorised Villa’s French defender Jordan Amavi, a £7.7m signing from Nice.
Former Villa player Peter Whittingham missed the match with a muscle strain and Bennett took over the set piece duties with great success.
Ralls fired Cardiff ahead with 16 minutes gone after Villa goalkeeper Mark Bunn jumped to catch a free-kick, but fell over backwards and out of play.
From the corner, taken by Bennett, Villa failed to clear and Ralls stayed composed to guide his shot over the line. That was his first goal at home this season and third in total.
The impressive Kenneth Zohore gave visiting defenders a torrid time, harassing them at every opportunity, and he hit a post just before half-time. Substitute Craig Noone turned the ball back towards goal from the rebound, but could not quite force it past Bunn.
Villa made two changes at half-time, sending on Aaron Tshibola and Gabriel Agbonlahor for Ashley Westwood and Gary Gardner.
Former Cardiff striker Ross McCormack hit the bar from a second half free-kick with Bennett hooking the rebound away safety, but City restricted their visitors to a minimum of chances.
The home performance was full of commitment and passion with fans getting right behind their team.
Grealish, who threw himself to the ground far too easily at times, drifted here, there and everywhere in a bid to unsettle Bamba, but the home team stayed strong.
While Villa pressed hard, they had to be aware of the threat from Harris, whose sizzling pace was a big threat.
There is little doubt Villa have the greater quality across their squad, but City were prepared to battle for each other and keep their visitors off balance.
Left-back Bennett was forced off injured with eight minutes left and Matt Connolly took over. He took up position on the right with Peltier switching to the left.
With time running out Bamba dropped back to play between Morrison and Manga, forming a solid unit at the back.
Cardiff City: Murphy, Peltier, Bamba, Morrison, Manga, Bennett (Connolly 83), Harris, Gunnarsson, Ralls, Hoilett (Noone 36), Zohore. Subs not used: Richards, Pilkington, Lambert, Huws, Wilson.
Aston Villa: Bunn, Hutton, Chester, Baker, Amavi, Gardner (Agbonlahor 46), Westwood (Tshibola 46), Adomah, Grealish, Bacuna, McCormack (Hepburn-Murphy 82). Subs not used: Gollini, Elphick, J Ayew, Cissokho.
Referee: Andy Davies
Attendance: 21,391.