Cardiff moved into the play-off zone with a 2-1 win against Barnsley at Ninian Park.
Cardiff cruise to 3-1 success
Cardiff moved into the play-off zone with a 3-1 win against Barnsley at Ninian Park.
Joe Ledley set the Bluebirds on their way with the opening goal on four minutes and Michael Chopra then made it 2-0 just before half-time.
Substitute Jon Macken did pull a goal back for Barnsley after the break, but their hopes of an unlikely comeback were extinguished moments later as Andranik Teymourian was sent off for a second bookable offence.
Peter Whittingham added late gloss to the scoreline as Cardiff closed to within six points of an automatic promotion place.
Ledley, who netted the only goal in the FA Cup semi-final between these sides last season, put his team one up when he blasted home from close range after an inswinging Whittingham corner had caused havoc in the Reds' penalty area.
Rhythm
Cardiff were soon into their passing rhythm - with the Barnsley midfield, who received glowing praise from their manager after their performance against QPR at the weekend, struggling to get hold of the ball.
After a quiet period in the first half, City almost doubled their lead on 30 minutes - but Whittingham's curling free-kick was tipped round the post by Heinz Muller.
The reprieve did not last long, Chopra on target in the 43rd minute.
The visitors started the second half well, Daniel Bogdanovic testing Dimitrios Konstantopoulos and then substitute Darren Moore heading just wide at the far post.
The pressure eventually told on the hour when, after a long throw from Rob Kozluk, Moore knocked the ball down to Macken - who slotted the ball in with his first touch.
But two minutes later, that good work was undone by a moment of madness.
On-loan Fulham midfielder Teymourian, who had already been booked in the first half, raised his hands in a melee on the edge of the area to give the referee no choice but to show him a second yellow.
Gavin Rae's thunderbolt cannoned off the bar, but it was not long before Cardiff scored a third when Whittingham capped a fine display with a shot from outside the area.