Cardiff 1-2 Birmingham

McFadden scored after five minutes to give Birmingham the lead

James McFadden gave Birmingham the perfect start at Cardiff to keep up the pressure on league leaders Wolves.

After just five minutes the Scotland forward timed his run into the box to perfection to caress Quincy Owusu-Abeyie's excellent cross into the net.

Owusu-Abeyie gave the Blues a two-goal lead with a 20-yard snap-shot through a crowd that whistled past Tom Heaton.

Ross McCormack gave Cardiff hope with four minutes left, a step-over making space to score, but Birmingham held on.

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Cardiff manager Dave Jones:
"The response my players showed today was everything bar winning the football match.

"Birmingham are a very good side but they didn't have a lot of the game today, they've played one up front and we've come at 'em and at 'em and at 'em.

"You get yourself set again after they took the wind out of you after five minutes, then we switch off from a throw-in and all of a sudden it's 2-0."

Birmingham manager Alex McLeish:
"We defended well against some real pressure and to score twice from only three shots on goal was a bonus.

"I'd really prefer us to go at teams rather than sit back and soak up the pressure.

"But we defended very well and I don't think Cardiff had many clear-cut chances."

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Cardiff: Heaton, McNaughton, Purse, Roger Johnson, Comminges (Kennedy 76), Rae, Whittingham, Parry (Eddie Johnson 76), Ledley, Bothroyd, McCormack.
Subs Not Used: Enckelman, Gyepes, Blake.

Booked: Comminges.

Goals: McCormack 86.

Birmingham: Maik Taylor, Murphy, Ridgewell, Jaidi, Parnaby, Larsson, Agustien, Owusu-Abeyie (Phillips 90), Carsley, Jerome (O'Connor 84), McFadden (Bent 75).
Subs Not Used: Doyle, Martin Taylor.

Booked: Parnaby.

Goals: McFadden 5, Owusu-Abeyie 41.

Att: 18,304

Ref: Michael Jones (Cheshire).