Traore and Morrison keep Cardiff looking up

Cardiff put the frustration of their recent draw at Millwall behind them with a comfortable victory over Bolton to keep up their bid for an automatic Championship promotion place.

Defenders Armand Traore and Sean Morrison – on his 150th City appearance – put Neil Warnock’s men in total control at the break.

Warnock said: “We were professional and we needed to be because it was always going to be difficult against a tough team like Bolton.

“We have a different game on Saturday because Middlesbrough will come here to win, but we are safe now and can’t get relegated. We are a good side and can get better.”

Cardiff lost Jamie Ward to an early injury, but their dominance was rewarded when fellow new boy Traore opened the scoring. Ward’s replacement, Yanic Wildschut, Morrison and Junior Hoilett had all gone close, before Callum Paterson’s throw-in fell to Traore. His leftfooted finish did the rest.

Morrison made it 2-0 with a close-range header at the second attempt just before the break.

When play resumed in the second half, so did the pressure on Bolton. Bruno Manga crashed a header off the crossbar.

Wanderers coach Phil Parkinson said: “We were second best. We didn’t do the basic things.”

Cardiff (4-3-3) Etheridge; Peltier, Morrison, Ecuele Manga, Traore; Paterson, Grujic, Ralls; Hoilett (Bamba 88), Zohore (Pilkington 84), J Ward (Wildschut 13). Subs Bennett, Feeney, Damour, Murphy.

Bolton (3-5-2) Alnwick; Dervite, Burke (Wheater 46), Beevers; Morais, Osede (Clough 69), Henry, Vela, Robinson; Ameobi (Walker 86), Le Fondre. Subs Little, A Taylor, Karacan, Howard. Booked Beevers. Referee Tim Robinson (West Sussex).