cardiff city vs afc wimbledon: Bluebirds romp to 4-1 win to extend League One lead

Cardiff City cruised to a convincing 4-1 victory over AFC Wimbledon on February 17, 2026 (ET), extending an unbeaten run to 12 matches and stretching their advantage at the top of League One. The win underlined the gulf in form between the two sides and further solidified Cardiff's bid for automatic promotion.

Dominant performance after a brief scare

Cardiff opened the scoring in the 22nd minute when Colwill met a low corner from Alex Robertson with a sweet first-time finish at the near post. The goal was symptomatic of a fluent first-half display in which the hosts probed and created a string of openings. Wimbledon, though, hit back late on when substitute Matty Stevens volleyed home from Steve Seddon's free-kick in first-half stoppage time, making the interval scoreline all square.

Any hopes of an upset were short-lived. The hosts reasserted control early in the second half, scoring twice in a three-minute spell to put the result beyond doubt. Perry Ng nodded home from an Ollie Tanner corner before turning provider himself, teeing up Tanner to turn inside the box and finish with composure. Omari Kellyman wrapped up the scoring in the 87th minute, taking a pass from substitute Callum Robinson and slotting a low finish into the bottom corner.

Nathan Trott marshalled the Cardiff goal with calm when required, while Wimbledon offered only occasional resistance, the closest being a late Seddon header that crashed off the post. The result left Wimbledon back in mid-table and highlighted the consistency gap between the squads.

Key contributors and squad strength

Several individuals stood out for Cardiff. Ollie Tanner continued a purple patch, adding to a run that has seen him directly influence multiple goals in recent weeks. Perry Ng impressed both defensively and going forward, scoring and delivering the assist for Tanner's strike. Colwill's composed finish opened the scoring and set the tone for a polished attacking display.

Manager Brian Barry-Murphy now oversees a side unbeaten in 12, with eight wins in that sequence. The depth and internal competition within the squad have been central to that form, with substitutes such as Callum Robinson making decisive late contributions. For Wimbledon, the match exposed defensive frailties against a high-tempo opponent, though the visitors will take some encouragement from Stevens' impact off the bench.

League implications and what's next

The victory preserved Cardiff's four-point cushion at the summit and pushed the gap to the play-off positions out to double digits. Lincoln City remain hot on the leaders' heels after a win elsewhere, but Bolton Wanderers' draw left them further adrift, underscoring how quickly momentum can shift in the promotion race.

For Cardiff, the challenge now is to maintain this level of consistency across the run-in. Confidence is high after a commanding home display, and the balance between attacking creativity and defensive solidity will be key if they are to secure automatic promotion. Wimbledon, meanwhile, must regroup and address defensive lapses if they are to climb away from mid-table and build a more stable second half of the campaign.

Updated 17th February 2026 at 22: 02 ET.