Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-0 Cardiff City: Match Report, Goals, Stats and Ratings

How Wolverhampton Wanderers won it

Wolverhampton Wanderers struck first through Fernando López González in the 10th minute, set up by Hugo Bueno. Adam Armstrong made it 2-0 to Wolverhampton Wanderers in the 15th minute, set up by Rafiki Saïd. Ladislav Krejci made it 3-0 to Wolverhampton Wanderers in the 58th minute, set up by Kieran Trippier.

It was 2-0 at half-time.

The referee, J. Smith, showed 6 yellow cards: 4 to Wolverhampton Wanderers and 2 to Cardiff City.

Wolverhampton Wanderers: P. da Silva Peixoto, 4-2-3-1 · Cardiff City: B. Barry-Murphy, 4-2-3-1.

Moneyball's prediction against the result

A correct call on the result: 49% for a Wolverhampton Wanderers win before the match. The scoreline, 3-0, was not the estimate's first choice (2-1).

On goals the estimate was close: about 3.2 expected, 3 scored.

Over 2.5 goals had been put at 62%; with 3 goals the over came in, as the estimate leaned.

Both teams to score was 63%; they did not both score, against the estimate.

Computed before kick-off from both sides' season goals and expected goals as of 2026-10-31, through a Dixon-Coles score model, and left as it was.

Why it went this way

On the day the expected goals were 1.41 for Wolverhampton Wanderers and 1.13 for Cardiff City.

Wolverhampton Wanderers scored about 1.6 more than their chances were worth: clinical finishing, or a goalkeeper having a bad day.

Cardiff City left about 1.1 goals' worth of chances on the pitch.

Wolverhampton Wanderers had 4 shots on target, Cardiff City 9.

Wolverhampton Wanderers's goalkeeper made 9 saves.

Cardiff City had 61% of the ball, but Wolverhampton Wanderers took the points.

Where the two sides stood before this match

Wolverhampton Wanderers came into it with 15 Championship matches played, scoring 1.7 and conceding 1.2 a match, with 1.72 expected goals for and 0.93 against, and had won 53% of their matches.

Cardiff City came into it with 15 Championship matches played, scoring 1.8 and conceding 1.8 a match, with 2.13 expected goals for and 1.61 against, and had won 27% of their matches.

Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Cardiff City: the match in numbers

Team statistics from Sportmonks.

Player ratings and man of the match

Man of the match: José Sá (Wolverhampton Wanderers), rated 9.0 by Sportmonks.

Wolverhampton Wanderers

• José Sá 9.0
• Kieran Trippier 8.1 1 assist
• Hugo Bueno 8.0 1 assist
• Ladislav Krejci 7.7 1 goal
• Adam Armstrong 7.3 1 goal

Cardiff City

• Joel Colwill 7.7
• Joel Bagan 7.0
• Perry Ng 6.9
• Yousef Salech 6.9
• Chris Willock 6.8

The lowest-rated starter was Nathan Trott at 5.5. Ratings run from 0 to 10; around 7.0 is a solid match.

What comes next

• Wolverhampton Wanderers: Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Charlton Athletic Saturday 21 November 2026 · Championship
• Cardiff City: Norwich City vs Cardiff City Saturday 21 November 2026 · Championship

Each preview has Moneyball's estimate for the next match, published before kick-off and marked against the result afterwards, as this one is.

Questions about Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Cardiff City

What was the score in Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Cardiff City?

Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-0 Cardiff City (half-time 2-0), Championship, Saturday 31 October 2026.

Who scored in Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Cardiff City?

Fernando López González 10', Adam Armstrong 15', Ladislav Krejci 58'.

Did Moneyball predict Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Cardiff City correctly?

A correct call on the result: 49% for a Wolverhampton Wanderers win before the match. The scoreline, 3-0, was not the estimate's first choice (2-1).

Who was man of the match in Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Cardiff City?

José Sá, rated 9.0 by Sportmonks.

Who refereed Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Cardiff City?

J. Smith.