Thierry Gale's late winner leaves Cardiff City still waiting for a league win

Thierry Gale headed a 90th-minute winner as Cardiff City lost 1-0 at Bolton Wanderers on Saturday, extending Cardiff's wait for a first Championship victory to seven matches. Gale met Theo Bair's cross in the centre of the box and found the bottom right corner, settling a match in which Cardiff repeatedly tested Gavin Bazunu.

Both players involved in the goal had come on at half time. Bair replaced Sam Dalby and Gale took over from Samuel Iling-Junior with the match goalless. The changes eventually brought Bolton a first league win since the opening weekend, ending a run of four consecutive defeats.

Bazunu keeps Cardiff out

Cardiff started with the same XI that drew with Stoke and created chances early. Bazunu stopped Yousef Salech from close range in the sixth minute and Chris Willock soon afterwards, then saved Salech's header and Krystian Bielik's close-range effort. Alex Robertson was also denied before Bolton began testing Nathan Trott.

Trott saved from Iling-Junior twice and Rúben Rodrigues before the interval. Cardiff continued to find chances after it: Bazunu kept out another Salech header, from Willock's cross, and a shot from Ollie Tanner in the 66th minute. Jack Moylan and substitute Cian Ashford also had efforts saved, while Trott denied Josh Sheehan at the other end.

Gale's header left Cardiff chasing an equaliser in added time. Callum Robinson still had a chance from Tanner's cross in the fourth added minute, but Bazunu saved again and Cardiff had to settle for a corner. The final whistle left Brian Barry-Murphy's side with four draws, three defeats and four points; Bolton moved to seven points from seven matches.

Barry-Murphy: wins must come quickly

Speaking after the defeat, Cardiff head coach Brian Barry-Murphy said: “I'm not naive; I know that we have to win games, and do it quickly.”

Chances without a goal

Cardiff finished with 59% possession and 17 shots to Bolton's seven, including 10 on target to Bolton's five. Those opportunities brought no points, with Bazunu recording 10 saves. Cardiff's next chance to end the winless start is at home to Charlton Athletic on 19 September at 12:30 BST. Bolton visit Norwich City the following day.