A first-half free kick from Craig Noone has sent Cardiff City through to the second round of the League Cup with a 1-0 win over AFC Wimbledon at the Cardiff City Stadium.
Cardiff looked the more likely in the early stages as Aron Gunnarsson had a shot blocked before firing another wide, while Eoin Doyle headed over from a Sammy Ameobi cross.
The League Two side started to look more likely midway through the opening period as Adebayo Akinfenwa narrowly missed connecting with a Will Nightingale cross, while former Cardiff defender Jon Meades fired wide.
The Championship club started to pile on the pressure again as the half-time whistle approached, with Sean Morrison setting up Noone for a header, but his finish was just high.
Noone got another chance in first-half stoppage time though as he lined up a free kick after Doyle was fouled, leaving the winger to blast the ball into the top corner.
The hosts had a couple of chances to extend their lead early in the second period as Fabio saw a low strike saved before Alex Revell's effort was deflected wide.
Noone could have added his second of the night when he tried another long-range effort, but he could not trouble the keeper from 25 yards out.
Wimbledon started to show more intent as they tried to get back on level terms inside the final half-hour, but Ben Wilson managed to stop Akinfenwa getting a shot away, while Morison cleared a Lyle Taylor cross before the big striker could get a touch on it.
Cardiff pressed hard in the final 10 minutes as they tried to put the win beyond doubt, knowing that a late Wimbledon goal would have taken the match to extra time, but Kenwyne Jones could not beat the keeper after Doyle flicked the ball on for the striker.
Sian Cowper
