ROBINS LIFTED BY SMART PLAY
But defeat piles pressure on Cardiff boss Harris
RED overcame blue in the Severnside battle for power with Chris Martin casting the vital early vote.
The Bristol City striker scored in the second minute and even though the winning margin was narrow, not even Donald Trump could have disputed it.
Cardiff made all the noise but none of t heir arguments cut through as keeper Daniel Bentley kept them at bay.
The win put Dean Holden’s side in second spot and the Robins boss said: “Back- to- back wins feel fantastic. You can’t come here and get a result without a really tight spirit and we had that.
“The biggest thing is all the fans watching and listening. People are being hit hard by this second lockdown, so to put a smile on their faces is great.”
Cardiff chief Neil Harris said: “I ’m gutted. I feel like I ’ve had my wallet pinched out of my pocket.
“We were by far the better team, creat ed chance aft er chance, dominated the game, the ball, set plays, every duel on the pitch. But one misplaced pass and the ball ends up in the back of our net.”
The Robins were forced to leave out Famara Diedhiou after the Senegal forward tested positive for Covid, but his absence did not prevent them from a rapid start.
They took the l ead after a f lowing counter- attack sprung by Callum O’ Dowd and f i ni shed inside the six- yard box by Martin.
Giant Wales frontman Kieffer Moore was the focal point for a Cardiff comeback, but he was unable to cash in on his openings, with a header f rom a corner turned around a post by Bentley.
His Wales team- mate, Harry Wilson, hooked a volley over the bar, and the second half followed the same futile pattern.
But when Wilson did put the ball on a plate for sub Robert Glatzel his effort was weak and Joe Ralls’ follow up was wayward.
The defeat means Cardiff have still won only once at home this season, increasing the pressure on manager Harris.