Cardiff City ended their five-match winless Premier League run this afternoon courtesy of a 1-0 victory over West Bromwich Albion in South Wales.
Peter Whittingham's 65th-minute header was the only goal of a low-quality game and secured the Bluebirds a victory that takes them above their opponents in the table.
Gary Medel had previously cleared Gareth McAuley's shot off the line, while Shane Long was brilliantly denied by Cardiff keeper David Marshall as Albion fell to a fourth straight top-flight defeat.
Below, Sports Mole analyses whether the result was reflective of the action.
Match statistics:
Cardiff:
Shots: 11
On target: 3
Possession: 49%
Corners: 8
Fouls: 16
West Brom:
Shots: 12
On target: 2
Possession: 51%
Corners: 6
Fouls: 12
Was the result fair?
It was a tense affair, with both sides more concerned about not conceding rather than scoring the first goal, which was always going to be crucial. Cardiff ended up getting it courtesy of Whittingham's superb header, and while there was little to choose between the sides, one cannot begrudge the hosts victory.
Cardiff's performance:
Their goalscoring threat was limited to set pieces in the first half, although, unlike the Baggies, they actually posed one. With Peter Odemwingie, largely ineffectual against his former club, looking to get into the box at every opportunity, the Bluebirds were a bit narrow, and their one wide attacking outlet, Craig Noone, was lively, but not presented with the ball often enough. Medel offered good protection to a largely settled and organised defence, which were thankful to Marshall's heroics one of the few times that they were cut open. Chris Brunt's flick-on found Long in the middle, and the West Brom striker powered a header back across goal which the home goalkeeper did brilliantly to tip around the post.
West Brom's performance:
Albion had their well-publicised Christmas party this week, but there will be little festive cheer at The Hawthorns after this result. Steve Clarke's side are now only two places above the relegation zone and their performance today was one lacking in confidence. The attacking players look a shadow of the team that scored three in a victory at Old Trafford earlier this season, with little or no threat coming from the flanks. Their full-backs never got forward in support of the wingers and therefore service into the box was rare, and when it came, there were not enough bodies in the area until the final 20 minutes. Poor finishing continues to frustrate them because there are not major problems at the defensive end.
Sports Mole's man of the match:
Craig Noone: The winger was determined to make an impression on his first Premier League start. He was the one player who showed pace and intent in a very poor opening 45 minutes, and although he was quieter in the second, his lovely cross to the back post provided Whittingham with the winning goal.
Biggest gaffe:
Medel's goal-line clearance was excellent last-ditch defending, but McAuley really should have scored. Claudio Yacob's miscued shot fell beautifully at the feet of the Northern Ireland defender 10 yards out, and with Marshall out of position, he really should have found the net to put West Brom ahead.
Referee's performance:
Howard Webb was the man in charge at the Cardiff City Stadium, and England's most senior official turned down a couple of strong penalty appeals. Long was clumsily brought down by Ben Turner, moments after Odemwingie had been floored at the other end. Both were probably spot kicks, but at least Webb was consistent with his decision making, not giving either rather than giving one and not the other.
What next?
Cardiff: Next up for the Bluebirds is one of the glamour ties that they will have been looking forward to since their promotion from the Championship, as they travel to Anfield to face Liverpool.
West Brom: The Baggies face another newly-promoted team next week when Hull City visit The Hawthorns, where a fifth straight defeat could see them slip into the relegation zone.
Joe Fish
