Stevenage 0-1 Cardiff City: Late Robinson stunner extends Bluebirds' lead at the top

Cardiff City moved four points clear at the top of League One after grinding out a hard-earned 1-0 win at Stevenage, thanks to a stunning late strike from substitute Callum Robinson.

On a night heavily disrupted by weather and travel issues – with kick-off pushed back 15 minutes – the Bluebirds were forced into a bruising, physical contest that never allowed them to settle into their usual rhythm. But when the decisive moment came, Robinson produced a flash of match-winning quality in the dying minutes to claim a hugely significant three points.

The first half was as attritional as anything Cardiff have faced this season. Stevenage, who had kept three consecutive clean sheets coming into the game, immediately made their intentions clear by going long, playing off second balls and using the considerable aerial presence of Charlie Goode and Carl Piergianni at every opportunity.

Cardiff struggled to impose themselves early on, with much of the opening exchanges played inside their own half. In the seventh minute, a direct ball forward caused Calum Chambers to hack clear under pressure, before another Goode long throw pinned City back again.

The hosts’ physicality was summed up on 40 minutes when Piergianni was booked for a heavy off-the-ball shove on Yousef Salech. City, for their part, had to be patient and wait for moments to break Stevenage’s momentum. Ryan Wintle’s searching pass in behind released Chris Willock, but the winger’s cross just eluded Salech at the far post. Soon after, Perry Ng went inches wide with a deft chest-and-poke finish after drifting behind the home defence.

Joel Colwill also fired a shot wide from the edge of the box, while Will Fish headed tamely at Filip Marschall from a free-kick. But the half