Sheffield United 5-3 Cardiff

Cardiff keeper Neil Alexander was beaten twice from the penalty spot

Hat-trick hero Peter Ndlovu helped settle an eight-goal thriller as Sheffield United preserved their unbeaten home record against Cardiff.

Cardiff contributed in fine style to a feast of spectacular football at Bramall Lane after the match had been delayed for 10 minutes due to crowd congestion.

Wales striker Robert Earnshaw fired his 10th and 11th goals of the season, strike partner Peter Thorne turned in a towering display and Cardiff midfielder Richard Langley capped a fine afternoon with a thundering 30-yard free-kick.

But it was not enough to deny the Blades all three points thanks to Michael Tongue's superb free-kick, three goals - a wonder strike and two penalties - from Ndlovu and Jack Lester's decisive late volley.

Blades goalkeeper Paul Gerrard, on-loan from Everton, was by far the busier in the early exchanges saving well from Thorne and Bluebirds skipper Graham Kavanagh.

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Paul Peschisolido, Ndlovu and Phil Jagielka all went close as the Neil Warnock's side tried to muscle their way into the match, with striker Ashley Ward and defender Jon Harley both booked.

Amazingly, given the goal-feast that was to follow, the game was tied 0-0 at half-time, but Thorne set things going with a fierce shot that Gerrard could only parry to Earnshaw, who despatched the rebound.

Frantic finale

Cardiff's lead lasted six minutes before Langley brought down Harley 25 yards from goal and Tongue stepped up to curl his free-kick beyond Neil Alexander.

Then Zimbabwean international Ndlovu claimed his fifth goal in as many matches when he fired the Blades ahead with a stunning shot from 35 yards.

But back came Cardiff with a classic one-two - Thorne headed the ball down into Earnshaw's path and the diminutive striker lashed home his 11th goal of the season.

Alexander then saved brilliantly from another Tongue free-kick before Cardiff regained the lead, Nick Montgomery penalised for handball 30 yards out and Langley firing spectacularly home.

But it takes more than the odd goal to knock the Blades out of their stride and they were level again when Ndlovu fired home from the penalty spot after Chris Barker had handled Montgomery's cross.

Then, in a frantic finale, Lester raced onto fellow substitute Wayne Allison's header to volley home, before Ndlovu converted his second spot kick after Willie Boland upended Tongue in the last minute.

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Sheffield United: Gerrard, Kozluk, Jagielka, Harley, Whitlow, Ndlovu, McCall, Montgomery, Tonge, Ward, Peschisolido. Subs: Armstrong, Lester, Parkinson, Allison, Rankine.

Cardif City: Alexander, Weston, Bonner, Collins, Barker, Vidmar, Kavanagh, Langley, Earnshaw, Thorne, Boland. Subs: Bowen, Gordon, Croft, Prior, Margetson.

Referee: M Riley (W Yorkshire).