How they rated

NEIL ETHERIDGE

Tested once in the first half by Sammy Ameobi but sprawled across his goal to cover. Couldn’t get near Madine’s well-taken penalty and was out of position for Vela’s strike.

LEE PELTIER

Kept Will Buckley, once one of the leading lights in the second tier, very quiet indeed before looking unsettled by the movement of Ameobi and Vela.

SOL BAMBA (CAPT)

Serenaded with everyone’s favourite Christmas chant from the first minute and made his presence felt with a couple of huge challenges. His handball in the box, which looked fairly clear, conceded the penalty.

BRUNO MANGA

Right place, right time, most of the time. Two or three important clearances in the first-half but far less solid after the break.

GREG HALFORD

Ask to do the ‘Gunnarsson’ role and screen the back four and, as expected, his contributions were mostly in the defensive third.

LOIC DAMOUR

A couple of sloppy touches early doors meant the Frenchman was left diving into tackles. He certainly put himself about, though, not afraid to match Henry and Pratley with some big tackles. Booked and eventually sacrificed for Tomlin.

JOE RALLS

Looked to drive the Bluebirds forward through midfield in Tomlin’s absence, but lacked the finesse of a true No.10. Could not fault his effort, just needed more help.

NATHANIEL MENDEZ-LAING

More often than not it was Mendez-Laing leading the Cardiff counter and, though he lacked end product, his lightning fast feet gave Bolton a few defensive headaches.

JUNIOR HOILETT

Strangely started on the right, but soon switched to his customary left-wing slot and his tricky feet befuddled Mark Little. Saw a secondhalf effort fly across the face of goal.

OMAR BOGLE

His physicality was on show all day, using his strength to batter David Wheater and Mark Beevers in the Bolton backline. But he rarely got a clear sight of goal and was replaced.

SUBSTITUTES

Zohore (for Bogle, 66); Tomlin (for Damour, 77); Feeney (for Tomlin, 90). Subs not used: Murphy, Connolly, Paterson, Pilkington.

BOLTON

Alnwick; Little, Beevers, Wheater, Taylor; Henry, Pratley (capt) Vela; Ameobi, Buckley (Noone, 60); Madine (Wilbraham, 90). Subs not used: Turner, Robinson, Cullen, Armstrong, Burke.

YELLOW CARDS

Bolton: Pratley, Damour, Henry. Cardiff:Peltier, Manga, Halford

REFEREE

Darren Bond

ATTENDANCE

15,344 (1,010 Cardiff fans)