cardiff city vs afc wimbledon — Bluebirds extend lead with 4-1 win
Cardiff City produced an authoritative display to beat AFC Wimbledon 4-1, stretching an unbeaten run to 12 matches and preserving a four-point cushion at the top of League One. The victory, sealed on Feb. 17, 2026, left the Bluebirds comfortably in control of the promotion race as rivals failed to close the gap. Last updated Feb. 17, 2026, 5: 02 PM ET.
How the match unfolded
Cardiff started on the front foot and opened the scoring in the 22nd minute when Colwill met Alex Robertson's low corner with a sweet, first-time strike at the near post. Wimbledon pushed back late in the first half; substitute Matty Stevens met a set piece on the stroke of half-time to volley home and peg the visitors level at 1-1.
Any hopes of a Wimbledon comeback were short-lived. Cardiff reasserted control early in the second half, turning the contest decisively in their favour with two goals inside three minutes. Ollie Tanner swung a corner into the box and Perry Ng rose to head home, then Ng returned the favour almost immediately when he teed up Tanner. Tanner's composed turn and finish restored the lead and swung momentum firmly back to the hosts.
Wimbledon offered the odd threat — Steve Seddon forced a late effort against the woodwork — but Cardiff closed the game out in the 87th minute. Substitute Callum Robinson slipped a pass through to Omari Kellyman, who rolled a calm finish into the bottom corner to round off a convincing 4-1 success.
Key performers and tactical takeaways
The win was built on fluid attacking play and set-piece efficiency. Colwill's opener arrived from a rehearsed corner routine, underlining Cardiff's threat from dead-ball situations. Tanner was heavily involved throughout; his delivery and movement created two decisive moments and his goal highlighted an increasing vein of form — his recent contribution streak in assists and goals has been noteworthy.
Defensively, Cardiff managed to absorb Wimbledon's best moments and punish them on the break. Ng offered both defensive solidity and attacking impetus, contributing a goal and an assist. The substitutes also made an impact: Robinson's vision unlocked the defence for Kellyman's late finish, while other changes helped maintain the tempo as the game entered its closing stages.
Wider implications for the table
The result keeps Cardiff four points clear at the top and stretches the margin between them and the play-off places. Their 12-game unbeaten run, which includes eight wins, has been the defining feature of their season and looks increasingly decisive in the promotion race. Nearby challengers registered mixed results, leaving the Bluebirds with breathing space at the summit.
For Wimbledon, the defeat brings an end to a short unbeaten spell and drops them down the table. The visitors will take heart from the equaliser and a few moments of pressure, but defensive lapses in the second half proved costly. Their task now is to steady the ship and address vulnerabilities that Cardiff exploited with clinical efficiency.
In short, the match underlined Cardiff's status as genuine promotion contenders: a team combining attacking invention, set-piece threat and squad depth. With the run of form they are enjoying, they remain favourites to press on toward automatic promotion unless rivals can drastically improve their consistency in the closing stages of the season.
