Wolves 2-0 Cardiff: Diogo Jota and Raul Jimenez on target in comfortable win

Diogo Jota opened the scoring from Wolves' first real attack of the game

Diogo Jota and Raul Jimenez were on target as Wolves ended a three-match winless run in the league with victory over struggling Cardiff.

Jota broke the deadlock in the 16th minute, finishing confidently past Neil Etheridge following a free-flowing move.

Wolves doubled their lead just two minutes later when Jota teed up Jimenez, who fired low into the corner for his 11th league goal of the campaign.

Leander Dendoncker nearly made it 3-0 in the first half but struck the post from point-blank range before being denied by Etheridge on the follow-up.

Cardiff's woes were compounded by an injury to Sol Bamba, who was carried off on a stretcher before half-time with what appeared to be a knee injury.

The win lifts seventh-placed Wolves onto 43 points - more than they have previously amassed in the Premier League - while Cardiff remain 18th, two points off safety following a third consecutive defeat.

Wolves recover from dismal Huddersfield showing

Wolves produced one of their worst displays of the season in Tuesday's surprise 1-0 defeat at Huddersfield, with Nuno Espirito Santo's side failing to register a single shot on target.

The Portuguese said afterwards that such a performance "cannot happen again", while calling on his players to "bounce back" at the earliest opportunity.

The hosts did so in some style against Cardiff, producing the kind of slick, attacking football we have come to expect from them this season.

An intricate passing move involving Willy Boly, Morgan Gibbs-White and Jimenez set up Jota for the opener, which came against the run of play following a bright opening by the visitors.

Wolves dominated thereafter, going 2-0 up through Jimenez two minutes after Jota had scored.

Only a combination of wayward finishing and excellent goalkeeping from Etheridge prevented the hosts from extending their advantage after the restart, with Adama Traore particularly profligate in front of goal.

The former Middlesbrough man sliced a right-footed effort wide from the edge of the penalty area before firing low past Etheridge's left-hand post soon afterwards.

Jimenez thought he had scored another from Matt Doherty's pass, but Etheridge somehow got a hand to the ball to deflect the effort off target.

The 29-year-old produced a smart reflex save to deny Ruben Vinagre late on but it was still a highly satisfactory afternoon for Wolves, who remain in pole position to clinch seventh spot.

They have now won 12 league games this season, their highest total of victories in a top-flight campaign since 1980-81 when they managed 13.

Cardiff sweating on Bamba injury

Back-to-back victories at the beginning of February had propelled Cardiff out of the relegation places, but three defeats on the bounce have dented the Bluebirds' hopes of safeguarding their top-flight status.

Manager Neil Warnock had called on his players to "look in the mirror" following Tuesday's 3-0 defeat by Everton, but the visitors had no one but themselves to blame in the first 20 minutes at Molineux.

Jimenez and Jota were given far too much space for the two goals, while Vinagre and Traore will feel they should have added to the scoreline in the second half after escaping the attentions of the Cardiff defence.

To be fair to Warnock's side, they endured their fair share of misfortune.

Bamba was in considerable discomfort after appearing to twist his knee while challenging Traore in first-half stoppage time. Cardiff will hope the injury isn't as serious as first feared.

Warnock will also feel Wolves' defender Ryan Bennett - who will serve a two-match suspension after picking up his 10th booking of the season - should have been shown a second yellow card following a challenge on his namesake Joe.

On this evidence, though, it is hard to see Cardiff hauling themselves out of trouble.

The Bluebirds face Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool in their next five games, before ending the campaign with a trip to Old Trafford.

Man of the match - Raul Jimenez (Wolves)

Raul Jimenez not only netted his 13th goal of the campaign in all competitions, he also registered more attempts (three) and played more key passes (four) than any other Wolves player.

Bennett 'should have been sent off' - what the managers said

Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo told Match of the Day: "The first half was very good, but not so good in the second half.

"Cardiff unbalanced themselves with their direct game and we had superiority and could have done better. A 2-0 scoreline is not a comfortable result ever, especially against Cardiff because they are so tough. I am always afraid something will happen."

Cardiff boss Neil Warnock told Match of the Day: "It has been the story of our season. We never gave ourselves a chance. The lads made mistakes they shouldn't have done and they know that."

On Sol Bamba's injury: "It is disappointing and sums our season up. We will regroup, probably without Sol and go again next week."

On Ryan Bennett's foul: "He should have been sent off, that is a booking anywhere else."

Twelve wins and counting - the stats

• Cardiff have lost five of their past seven Premier League matches (W2), conceding two or more goals in each defeat.

• Wolves have lost just one of their past seven matches in the Premier League (W4 D2).

• Diogo Jota has been directly involved in nine goals in his past seven games in all competitions at Molineux (five goals, four assists).

• There were just 134 seconds between Wolves' first and second goals against Cardiff.

• There were 17 passes leading up to Diogo Jota's goal, the most passes before a Wolves goal in the Premier League this season.

• Ryan Bennett (10) is one of three players to hit double figures for yellow cards in a single Premier League season for Wolves - after Paul Ince and Alex Rae in 2003-04.

• Wolves' goalkeeper John Ruddy made his first start in the Premier League since May 2016 for Norwich versus Everton, 1,021 days ago.

What's next?

Wolves travel to Chelsea in their next league fixture on Sunday, 10 March (14:05 GMT), while Cardiff host West Ham the day before (15:00 GMT).