Peter Whittingham's hat-trick helped Cardiff City come back from a goal down to defeat Wolves.

Bakary Sako marked his Championship debut with a cracking low free-kick to put the visitors ahead.

Cardiff responded a minute later when Whittingham converted a penalty won by debutant Craig Noone.

Three minutes later, Whittingham finished a swift counter attack from the edge of the Wolves area, before his second-half free-kick sealed things.

The midfielder's third - his second career hat-trick for Cardiff - was the pick of the goals, as he found the top corner by lifting the ball over the wall.

New singing Noone, who joined from Brighton and Hove Albion on Thursday, was a constant menace with his pace and trickery.

Such was his impact on the left wing, Cardiff hardly felt the absence of Craig Bellamy through injury.

But it was another new face to strike first in a pulsating opening as Sako drilled a low free-kick past goalkeeper David Marshall on 10 minutes.

Noone's first telling contribution followed almost immediately when he tempted Ronald Zubar into a rash challenge inside his own area, with Whittingham dispatching the penalty down the middle.

Cardiff then turned defence into attack to take the lead.

Another Cardiff debutant, Nicky Maynard, was involved before Whittingham fired low into the bottom corner from 18 yards.

Wolves, who have recorded just two wins in their last 28 league games, enjoyed some midfield dominance after the break.

But they failed to engineer clear openings and Whittingham's glorious third after another foul on Noone sealed the points.

Cardiff City manager Malky Mackay:

"We've signed 10 players - a bit like last season - and it takes time to integrate people. We realise that, but looking at them today they are beginning to get there.

"I was so happy with them; the way they applied themselves - they are beginning to slip into the work-rate I expect at this football club.

"But we're bringing in good footballers as well so it's upping the levels and I'm delighted with the performance."

Wolves manager Stale Solbakken:

"We talked long and hard about not conceding stupid free-kicks or penalties and we made stupid errors at important times in the game.

"We were 1-0 up and we didn't give ourselves the chance to hold onto our lead. I'm very disappointed at our stupid mistakes which cost us goals.

"Everyone can beat everyone in this division but we've lost quality players in the transfer window. Our new players will take time to bed into the side."

Lineup, Bookings (2) & Substitutions (6)

Cardiff City

  • 01 Marshall
  • 02 McNaughton
  • 03 Taylor
  • 05 Hudson
  • 12 Connolly
  • 07 Whittingham
  • 16 Noone (Cowie - 74' )
  • 18 Mutch Booked (Gunnarsson - 59' )
  • 14 Smith
  • 22 Helguson
  • 23 Maynard (Mason - 68' )

Substitutes

  • 32 Lewis
  • 31 Nugent
  • 08 Cowie
  • 13 Kim Bo-Kyung
  • 17 Gunnarsson
  • 09 Velikonja
  • 20 Mason

Wolverhampton Wanderers

  • 13 Ikeme
  • 11 Ward
  • 14 Johnson
  • 16 Berra
  • 23 Zubar (Stearman - 73' )
  • 04 Edwards (Nouble - 73' )
  • 07 Peszko (Forde - 83' )
  • 10 Sako
  • 28 Doumbia
  • 09 Ebanks-Blake Booked
  • 29 Doyle

Substitutes

  • 31 De Vries
  • 03 Elokobi
  • 05 Stearman
  • 25 Batth
  • 26 Davis
  • 27 Forde
  • 18 Nouble
Ref: D'Urso
Att: 22,020

Match Stats

Shots

12 7

On target

10 4

Corners

11 6

Fouls

15 8

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:07 Full time

Full Time The referee brings the game to a close.

90:00 +3:11

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Kevin Doyle by Aron Gunnarsson. Christophe Berra restarts play with the free kick.

89:49

Outswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Peter Whittingham.

85:29

Bakary Sako takes a shot. Matthew Connolly gets a block in.

82:46

Bakary Sako takes the direct free kick.

82:46 Substitution

Substitution Anthony Forde is brought on as a substitute for Slawomir Peszko.

82:46

Mark Hudson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Bakary Sako.

81:10

Tommy Smith takes a shot. Blocked by Richard Stearman. Short corner taken by Peter Whittingham from the right by-line.

79:37

Don Cowie takes a shot. Save made by Carl Ikeme.

73:59

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Christophe Berra by Heidar Helguson. Direct free kick taken by Bakary Sako.

72:32 Substitution

Substitution Craig Noone goes off and Don Cowie comes on.

72:32 Substitution

Substitution Frank Nouble on for David Edwards.

72:32 Substitution

Substitution (Wolverhampton) makes a substitution, with Richard Stearman coming on for Ronald Zubar.

72:17

Effort on goal by Heidar Helguson from just inside the area clears the bar.

70:44

Outswinging corner taken by Bakary Sako from the left by-line, clearance by Mark Hudson.

70:06

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Sylvan Ebanks-Blake by Aron Gunnarsson. Bakary Sako takes the free kick.

68:11

David Edwards fouled by Tommy Smith, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Christophe Berra.

67:02 Substitution

Substitution Joe Mason is brought on as a substitute for Nicky Maynard.

64:44

Assist by Craig Noone.

64:44 Goal scored

Goal - Peter Whittingham - Cardiff 3 - 1 Wolves Peter Whittingham scores a goal direct from the free kick from just outside the penalty box to the top left corner of the goal. Cardiff 3-1 Wolverhampton.

63:41

Foul by Tongo Doumbia on Craig Noone, free kick awarded.

61:12

Kevin McNaughton takes a shot. Blocked by Christophe Berra.

57:47

David Marshall restarts play with the free kick.

57:47 Substitution

Substitution Jordon Mutch goes off and Aron Gunnarsson comes on.

57:47

Free kick awarded for a foul by Slawomir Peszko on Nicky Maynard.

56:32

The assistant referee signals for offside against Nicky Maynard. Indirect free kick taken by Roger Johnson.

55:53

Ronald Zubar takes a shot. Comfortable save by David Marshall.

52:54

Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Bakary Sako from the left by-line, clearance made by Heidar Helguson.

51:33

Craig Noone takes a shot. David Edwards gets a block in. Corner taken by Peter Whittingham, Mark Hudson takes a shot. Comfortable save by Carl Ikeme.

49:59

Andrew Taylor challenges Slawomir Peszko unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Ronald Zubar.

49:28

Short corner taken by Peter Whittingham from the right by-line.

48:41

Strike on goal comes in from Peter Whittingham from the free kick, fantastic save by Carl Ikeme.

48:41 Booking

Booking Sylvan Ebanks-Blake is cautioned by the ref for unsporting behaviour.

47:37

Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Peter Whittingham. Sylvan Ebanks-Blake concedes a free kick for a foul on Kevin McNaughton.

45:01

The game restarts for the second half.

45:00 +2:27 Half time

Half Time The match has reached half-time.

45:00 +1:49

Inswinging corner taken by Craig Noone, save by Carl Ikeme.

45:00 +0:27

Craig Noone takes a shot. Save by Carl Ikeme.

44:41

Heidar Helguson concedes a free kick for a foul on Tongo Doumbia. Free kick taken by Stephen Ward.

43:38

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Tommy Smith by David Edwards. Mark Hudson takes the direct free kick.

41:51

Corner taken by Peter Whittingham.

40:21

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Christophe Berra by Heidar Helguson. Roger Johnson takes the direct free kick.

37:02

Short corner taken by Peter Whittingham.

36:11

Foul by Roger Johnson on Heidar Helguson, free kick awarded. Peter Whittingham crosses the ball in from the free kick, Carl Ikeme makes a save.

35:33

Sylvan Ebanks-Blake concedes a free kick for a foul on Matthew Connolly. Free kick taken by David Marshall.

32:48

Corner taken by Bakary Sako from the right by-line played to the near post, Heidar Helguson manages to make a clearance.

32:20

The offside flag is raised against Craig Noone. Ronald Zubar takes the indirect free kick.

30:19

Sylvan Ebanks-Blake produces a right-footed shot from deep inside the penalty area which goes wide of the left-hand post.

27:19

Free kick awarded for a foul by Matthew Connolly on Kevin Doyle. Stephen Ward restarts play with the free kick.

25:48

David Edwards produces a right-footed shot from the edge of the area and misses to the left of the target.

24:19

Foul by Sylvan Ebanks-Blake on Mark Hudson, free kick awarded. David Marshall takes the free kick.

23:49

Peter Whittingham gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Sylvan Ebanks-Blake. Stephen Ward restarts play with the free kick.

21:53

Corner taken left-footed by Craig Noone to the near post, Kevin Doyle manages to make a clearance. Tommy Smith has shot on goal from just outside the penalty box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.

20:50

Sylvan Ebanks-Blake is ruled offside. Mark Hudson takes the free kick.

17:49

David Edwards takes a shot. Save by David Marshall.

17:09

Free kick taken by Stephen Ward.

17:09 Booking

Booking Jordon Mutch booked.

16:37

Free kick awarded for a foul by Jordon Mutch on Bakary Sako.

14:50

Free kick awarded for a foul by Jordon Mutch on Tongo Doumbia. Direct free kick taken by Tongo Doumbia.

13:32

Assist on the goal came from Nicky Maynard.

13:32 Goal scored

Goal - Peter Whittingham - Cardiff 2 - 1 Wolves Peter Whittingham scores a goal from just outside the penalty box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Cardiff 2-1 Wolverhampton.

13:07

Foul by Matthew Connolly on David Edwards, free kick awarded. Kevin Doyle restarts play with the free kick.

10:52

The assist for the goal came from Craig Noone.

10:52 Goal scored

Goal - Peter Whittingham - Cardiff 1 - 1 Wolves Placed penalty scored by Peter Whittingham. Cardiff 1-1 Wolverhampton.

10:25

Unfair challenge on Craig Noone by Ronald Zubar results in a Penalty.

9:14

Assist by Sylvan Ebanks-Blake.

9:14 Goal scored

Goal - Bakary Sako - Cardiff 0 - 1 Wolves Bakary Sako scores a goal direct from the free kick from just outside the box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Cardiff 0-1 Wolverhampton.

8:34

Sylvan Ebanks-Blake fouled by Peter Whittingham, the ref awards a free kick.

4:07

David Edwards takes a shot. Save by David Marshall. Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Peter Whittingham, Carl Ikeme makes a save.

6:13

Unfair challenge on Christophe Berra by Jordon Mutch results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Carl Ikeme.

5:13

Outswinging corner taken by Peter Whittingham, Craig Noone takes a shot. Save by Carl Ikeme.

4:07

David Edwards takes a shot. David Marshall makes a comfortable save. Inswinging corner taken by Slawomir Peszko from the right by-line, save made by David Marshall.

3:27

Corner taken left-footed by Bakary Sako from the right by-line to the near post, save by David Marshall.

1:49

Bakary Sako takes a inswinging corner from the right by-line to the near post, Nicky Maynard manages to make a clearance.

0:00

The referee gets the game started.

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