"It wasn't the best game for the neutral to watch as we had to be respectful of the opposition and we knew we would have to frustrate Cardiff," Clarke said of the game that was screened live on Sky Sports.
"That was the plan we set out and I am one for winning football matches any which way in which it needs to be done. A moment of real quality from Linesy has managed to get us the winning goal, but the reason we won the game was down to how disciplined the lads were in sticking to the game plan.
"We rode our luck a little when the ball hit the inside of the post and came back out in the last minute, but, other than that, we limited Cardiff to very few chances.
"They had a lot of possession as we expected, but I felt that we created the better of the few opportunities that there were on the night. The discipline of the side without the ball is what ultimately won us the game."