Cardiff City secured their first away victory of the season with a dramatic 1-0 win over AFC Wimbledon at the Cherry Red Records Stadium, as Isaak Davies struck deep into stoppage time to hand the Bluebirds all three points in a hard-fought League One encounter.
The Welsh side’s win on Tuesday evening not only marked a crucial breakthrough in their away form but also continued manager Brian Barry-Murphy’s impressive start to life at the Cardiff City Stadium. The 47-year-old former Manchester City Elite Development Squad coach has now overseen an unbeaten run that has propelled Cardiff to 2nd in the League One table, with only Stevenage above them in the standings.
Early Promise and Missed Opportunities
Barry-Murphy made two changes to his starting eleven, bringing Joel Colwill and Joel Bagan back into the lineup in place of Dakarai Mafico and David Turnbull. These changes looked to be inspired, with the younger Colwill brother making an immediate impact in the opening exchanges.
Within three minutes of kick-off, Joel Colwill found himself in a dangerous position inside the penalty area, only to be brought down by Wimbledon's left-sided wing-back Steve Seddon who appeared to make no contact with the ball and bring Joel down inside the box. Despite this, the referee controversially awarded a goal kick to the hosts, setting the tone for what would prove to be a frustrating evening for Cardiff’s attacking players.
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— Cardiff City FC (@CardiffCityFC) August 19, 2025
Two changes from Saturday's starting lineup - @joelbagan and @joelcolwill return to the XI 💙#CityAsOne pic.twitter.com/3eXrgeFiYJ
We’re just lucky Joel Colwill didn’t suffer something more serious here… pic.twitter.com/D15AOBkulx
— Three Little Birds (@ThreeBluebirds_) August 19, 2025
The Bluebirds created the better chances throughout the first half, with Yousef Salech and Ollie Tanner both going close to breaking the deadlock. Salech saw his header flash narrowly wide of goal, while Tanner’s curling effort after cutting in from the right drifted just past the post. The pair’s attacking intent demonstrated Cardiff’s early dominance, though they were unable to capitalise on their advantage.
Second Half Setbacks and Tactical Adjustments
Cardiff’s attacking ambitions suffered a significant blow just before the second half when Tanner was forced to withdraw due to an injury sustained near the advertising boards. The loss of the winger disrupted Cardiff’s rhythm, forcing Barry-Murphy to reconsider his tactical approach for the remaining 45 minutes.
Wimbledon, having absorbed considerable pressure in the opening period, began to assert themselves more after the interval. Alistair Smith tested Cardiff goalkeeper Nathan Trott with a strike from distance ten minutes into the second half, though the former Wimbledon loanee comfortably dealt with the effort. Defender Ryan Johnson followed up with two attempts that failed to trouble Trott, as the home side began to grow in confidence.
The match’s pivotal moment came just after the hour mark, when both managers opted for triple substitutions. Barry-Murphy introduced Isaak Davies, Callum Robinson, and David Turnbull, replacing Joel Colwill, Cian Ashford, and Yousef Salech respectively. The changes would prove instrumental in Cardiff’s eventual breakthrough, bringing fresh energy and attacking impetus to the pitch.
Late Drama and Davies’ Decisive Touch
The substitutions immediately paid dividends for Cardiff, with the newcomers combining effectively to create several promising opportunities. Chris Willock’s dangerous cross found Davies well-positioned on the goal line, though the forward was denied by a crucial interception from the Wimbledon defence.
Callum Robinson proved particularly troublesome for the home side’s backline, forcing a desperate block from his close-range effort before heading just over the crossbar during added time. With injury time drawing to a close, it appeared that Cardiff would be forced to settle for another away draw, having managed just the one point from their previous away fixture at Port Vale.
However, football is never linear and late drama ensured a thrilling conclusion to proceedings. Deep into the second minute of stoppage time, Chris Willock delivered a cross into the box, headed away by Wimbledon centre-half Ryan Johnson which fell to David Turnbull, who unleashed a shot toward goal that appeared destined for Nathan Bishop’s gloves. The ball’s trajectory was crucially altered when it struck the outstretched leg of Davies, who had made a perfectly-timed run into the penalty area. The deflection sent the ball rolling into the bottom-left corner and chaos erupted in the away end.
Some away end that😍😍😍 pic.twitter.com/whM0TJzChO
— Keiron holdsworth (@Keiron_ccfc) August 19, 2025
Isaak Davies’ goal celebration was nearly cut short when Wimbledon mounted one final desperate attack in search of an equaliser. The home side’s last-gasp effort required an exceptional fingertip save from Trott, who notched up his third consecutive clean sheet in League One action with a save that ultimately meant Cardiff would keep hold of the lead they had just snatched from the jaws of a 0-0 draw.
The goalkeeper’s contribution cannot be understated in the context of Cardiff’s improved defensive solidity under their new manager. Having conceded the second-most goals in the Championship during their relegation campaign, the Bluebirds have shown marked improvement in their defensive organisation since Barry-Murphy’s appointment, still yet to concede a goal from open play.
Looking Forward
This victory represents more than just three valuable points in Cardiff’s quest for immediate promotion back to the Championship. It demonstrates the club’s growing confidence under Barry-Murphy’s guidance and their ability to secure results in challenging games. The combination of experienced professionals sprinkled throughout the squad and emerging academy talents has created a squad dynamic that appears well-suited to the demands of League One football.
The Bluebirds’ next challenge comes in the form of a trip to Luton Town, where they will look to build upon this momentum and continue their impressive start to the campaign. With their away form now showing signs of improvement and their attacking players beginning to find their rhythm, Cardiff appear well-positioned for a sustained promotion challenge throughout the remainder of the season.
For Isaak Davies, this goal represents a significant milestone in his recovery from injury. His ability to make decisive contributions from the bench provides Barry-Murphy with valuable tactical options as the season progresses, while his academy pedigree embodies the club’s commitment to nurturing homegrown talent under their renewed ethos.
