cardiff city vs afc wimbledon: Bluebirds run extends with 4-1 win
Cardiff City produced a dominant display to beat AFC Wimbledon 4-1 and maintain their four-point advantage at the top of League One. Joe Colwill opened the scoring before Matty Stevens' stoppage-time equaliser was followed by three decisive goals after the interval from Perry Ng, Ollie Tanner and Omari Kellyman. Updated 17th February 2026 at 5: 02 PM ET.
Match report
The hosts started on the front foot and carved out the clearer openings in the early stages, with an intricate passing move producing a good chance for right-back Perry Ng. Cardiff took the lead in the 22nd minute when Alex Robertson dragged a low corner to the edge of the box and Joe Colwill met it first time, lashing a sweet strike into the near post.
Wimbledon responded and, against the run of play, got back on level terms in first-half injury time. Substitute Matty Stevens volleyed in unmarked from a set-piece delivery to make it 1-1, ensuring the sides went in level at the break.
Any hope of a Wimbledon comeback lasted just 16 minutes of the second half. Cardiff struck twice inside a three-minute spell: Ng nodded in from Ollie Tanner's corner, and then supplied the pass for Tanner to turn smartly and finish, capitalising on the momentum the Bluebirds had seized.
The home side wrapped up a stylish victory late on when substitute Callum Robinson found Omari Kellyman, who composed himself and rolled a confident shot into the bottom corner. Wimbledon had a late moment when Steve Seddon headed against the post, but otherwise the leaders were in control.
Key performers and statistics
Ollie Tanner continued a rich vein of form, adding another goal to a sequence that has seen him produce eight assists and one goal in his past seven matches. Perry Ng was influential at both ends of the pitch, scoring and creating, while Joe Colwill's composed finish underlined why he is a key figure in the side's attacking rotation. Omari Kellyman's late contribution confirmed the team's depth and clinical edge when breaking down rearguards.
The victory extended Cardiff's unbeaten league run to 12 matches, with eight wins over that period. Wimbledon’s three-match unbeaten run came to an end and they dropped a place to 16th, reflecting the gulf between the teams in the standings despite the earlier cup upset between them this season.
What the result means
The leaders remain four points clear of the nearest automatic promotion spot. A chasing side maintained pressure with a separate league victory, while another contender’s draw widened the gap to third place to 12 points, emphasising the cushion now enjoyed at the summit. For Wimbledon, the defeat halts recent momentum; their season has mixed results but positive away performances earlier in the campaign showed resilience that they will hope to rediscover.
Beyond the immediate table implications, the match reinforced the home side's balance between creativity and physicality. Fluid attacking play, strong set-piece delivery and decisive finishing combined to produce a comprehensive performance that should boost confidence ahead of coming fixtures.
Cardiff will take heart from the control they exhibited, while Wimbledon must regroup and find consistency in a season that remains open despite recent setbacks.
