Captain’s knock inspires Cardiff

CARDIFF skipper Sean Morrison scored his second goal in three games as the Bluebirds stopped Bolton’s mini-revival.

Manager Neil Warnock has showered Morrison with praise this season and the central defender lived up to the billing last night.

He snuffed out any threat from the visitors and then crashed home his team’s second goal after Armand Traore, below, had given Cardiff the lead.

The win sees Cardiff stay in fourth spot, but they are just a point behind second-placed Aston Villa.

Kenneth Zohore failed to make the most of Junior Hoilett’s clever run behind the Bolton defence in the opening minute as the visitors were almost caught cold.

But Bolton settled and former Cardiff old boys Sammy Ameobi and Adam Le Fondre began to create their own problems up front.

Already without injured Danny Ward, Cardiff lost Jamie Ward on his debut when he limped off after 12 minutes. But the

CARDIFF

Bluebirds lost little of their early energy and substitute Yanic Wildschut almost put his side ahead.

Hoilett’s through ball put Wildschut in the clear, only for him to be denied by the legs of keeper Ben Alnwick.

Bolton continued to be put under pressure and the Bluebirds deservedly went ahead in the 34th minute through Traore.

The full-back – on loan from Nottingham Forest – reacted smartly to pick up a loose ball in the box before turning and scooping a shot inside the far post.

Cardiff went 2-0 up in the 44th minute through Morrison, with the defender thumping home after his initial header was saved.

Cardiff came close to adding another at the start of the second half, when Bruno Manga crashed a header a against the bar, but two goals proved more than enough for Warnock’s men to claim all three points.