Cardiff City Edge Past Exeter City in Boxing Day Clash

League Leaders Maintain Top Spot with Narrow Victory

Alex Robertson scored the decisive goal that earned Cardiff City, the Sky Bet League One leaders, a 1-0 home victory over Exeter City on Boxing Day. The match, played in front of 22,291 fans at Cardiff City Stadium, proved crucial for the Bluebirds’ promotion ambitions as they extended their advantage at the summit of the table.

Historic Boxing Day Success for Cardiff

It was the Bluebirds’ first win in the traditional Christmas fixture since 2012 and only their third this century as they extended their lead at the top to four points. The victory was particularly significant given Cardiff’s recent setback, with the Welsh side looking to bounce back from a defeat to Lincoln City. Meanwhile, for Exeter it was their first Boxing Day defeat since 2017, ending what had been a positive run of form for the Grecians.

Competitive First Half Shows Exeter’s Resilience

Despite Cardiff’s dominance in possession, Exeter demonstrated defensive discipline throughout the opening period. The Grecians belied their lowly position of 20th throughout a highly competitive first half as they kept Cardiff goalless despite conceding almost 70 per cent of the possession. Exeter goalkeeper Joe Whitworth proved instrumental in keeping his side level before the break, making several crucial saves.

Robertson Breakthrough Secures Victory

The deadlock was finally broken early in the second half when Cian Ashford delivered a pinpoint long ball into the path of Alex Robertson, who calmly slotted past the onrushing Whitworth in the 52nd minute. Despite Exeter’s late attempts to find an equaliser, including a chance in the 93rd minute when Reece Cole found space on the edge of the box but couldn’t keep his effort down, Cardiff held firm to secure all three points and maintain their position at the top of League One.

Implications for the Promotion Race

This result reinforces Cardiff’s credentials as serious promotion contenders following their relegation from the Championship. The victory maintains their momentum and demonstrates their ability to grind out results in tightly contested matches. For Exeter, sitting precariously in 20th position, the defeat highlights the challenge of competing away from home, where they have struggled throughout the campaign.