Chris Willock’s second-half goal handed the Bluebirds a 1-0 win to maintain their unbeaten start to the League One season
15:02, 23 Aug 2025Updated 16:12, 23 Aug 2025
Cardiff City’s Chris Willock celebrates scoring with Rubin Colwill(Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency)
Cardiff City maintained their unbeaten start to the League One season as Chris Willock’s second-half goal was enough to defeat Luton 1-0 at Kenilworth Road.
Willock hammered into the bottom corner in the 68th minute to earn the Bluebirds a third successive win and inflict a second defeat in three on the Hatters.
The visitors went close early on, David Turnbull dragging wide while Callum Robinson missed a sitter.
Mark McGuinness diverted a low cross against his own post too, with home goalkeeper Josh Keeley making a superb save when Robinson tried to beat him from the halfway line.
Luton had chances of their own, Nahki Wells rolling an effort wide, volleying into the ground and over, and also shooting too close to visiting keeper Nathan Trott.
The Bluebirds stopper made a superb save from George Saville’s half-volley after 34 minutes before parrying Lasse Nordas’ prod and gathering Christ Makosso’s volley.
Trott came to the rescue again in the early stages of the second half with a great stop from McGuinness’ header.
Makosso then put a glorious chance wide and City made Luton pay with Willock firing into the bottom corner.
In was a brilliant solo effort from the attacker, who cut back onto his left foot and let rip from juts inside the penalty box.
Nordas went close to a leveller, Trott again saving, but Rubin Colwill almost added a second late on, dinking wide when clean through.
Barry-Murphy said: “It felt a very difficult game, there was a lot of chances for both teams, so for us to come out on the right side of the scoreline is very pleasing. We’re very pleased with how we played overall. Join the Cardiff City breaking news and top stories WhatsApp community.
“I thought both teams attacked really intently, more or less from the first whistle to the last. We were clear on what qualities Luton had and how dangerous they would be when the ball was in the box, so for us to keep a clean sheet is very pleasing.
“I was very pleased with the character and the style of play we played with from the very first minute.
“We’re conscious of the fact of how young our defensive line is and how young our goalkeeper is, relatively speaking. We defended really well against a stirring test.
“We knew what the test would be like, it will give the players a lot of belief in what we’re trying to do and the different ways to try and control a team as dangerous as Luton in our box.”
The win puts the Bluebirds top of the League One standings on 13 points after five games.
Stevenage – who have a perfect record so far – sit second but have played one game fewer at the time of writing.
Cardiff now turn to League Cup action when they host Cheltenham Town on Tuesday night (7.45pm) before welcoming Plymouth Argyle to Cardiff City Stadium next Saturday (12.30pm).