CARDIFF CITY 2-1 WOLVES: REPORT

Source: FourFourTwo

Junior Hoilett produced a late and great winner to ensure Cardiff City came back from a goal down to beat Wolves and climb out of the bottom three.

Wolves took the lead early on through Matt Doherty before Aron Gunnarsson equalised for the Welsh team.

Cardiff have now moved up to 15th after the win, and are now five points below 11th placed Wolves.

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HOW IT HAPPENED

Cardiff got off to a bad start when only 18 minutes in, Wolves took an early lead in the Welsh capital.

They had a corner on the right and Raul Jiminez was found and his header was well saved by Neil Etheridge, but Doherty was the quickest player to react and he fired the visitors in front.

Cardiff nearly levelled when Harry Arter's 20-yard strike cannoned off the post and Josh Murphy fired the rebound over the crossbar.

The Bluebirds equalised after the break, when Arter's great cross wasn't dealt with at all by Rui Patricio and the ball landed on Gunnarsson's chest and he fired into the top corner.

Just over 10 minutes later, Cardiff found the net again. A goal of the season contender from Hoilett.

Hoilett anticipated a loose ball and got one, and he aimed a first-time curled effort towards the top right corner and Patricio couldn't stop the Canadian's fine strike.

Wolves had a big chance for an equaliser not long after. Jiminez found Diogo Jota, who laid it off to Ivan Cavaileiro who peeled off Bruno Manga, but he couldn't guide beat Etheridge.

Despite some late pressure from the away side, Cardiff held on for a vital win in Wales, lifting them out of the relegation zone.

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THE MANAGERS

Neil Warnock, Cardiff City manager:

"I'm really proud of them tonight. 1-0 down at half-time, I thought we didn't deserve to be but that's how it is. In the second-half, we were on the front foot most of the time, really.

"I said at half-time, they needed to get Gunnarsson out of the cart after the first goal and I thought Harry Arter's shot was going in as well and I thought we wanted it more tonight.

"Conceding from set-pieces is frustrating. It was our strength last year, and no matter what you say or do there's nothing you can do about it on the pitch. Gunnarsson knew straight away - they're all doing their best, so I can't have a go. We just have to work harder."

Nuno Espirito Santo, Wolves manager:

"All defeats are hard to take. But when you have the lead and the game changes, it's very hard.

"I think we had a better game than last week. The first-half was good. But the second-half we didn't do enough to hang onto the lead.

"The first goal is too easy for them, after that the game became difficult. It's hard when you take the lead and you lose the game.

"We had chances, but we need more possession of the ball. They hit us with long balls and it caused us trouble.

"Confidence is not something that you can buy. The first goal was maybe a foul - I was a goalkeeper and when someone touches you it's hard. I'm conscious that we are a lot of games without a win."