Notts County 0-1 Cardiff

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A 25-yard strike from Cardiff City's Gary Croft gave them victory against struggling Notts County.

Croft, a summer signing from Ipswich, scored with a crisp left-foot shot after 20 minutes - with Robert Earnshaw especially pleased that it eventually clinched the points.

Earnshaw's series of misses kept County in contention after they were totally out-classed in the first period.

County have failed to win at home this season and manager Bill Dearden faces a massive job if they are to avoid a repeat of last season's relegation battle.

City, unbeaten on their travels since February, almost paid for their generosity in front of goal when County skipper Darren Caskey saw his free-kick rebound off the inside of the post.

But apart from the aerial threat of Ian Richardson, County had nothing to offer up front and City more than deserved their victory.

The only blemish to the City display were second-half bookings for Graham Kavanagh, Willie Boland and Croft.

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Notts County: Garden, Ramsden, Fenton, Richardson, Nicholson, Cas, Caskey, Bolland, Liburd, Stallard, Allsopp. Subs: Mildenhall, Brough, Heffernan, Hackworth, Stone.

Cardiff: Alexander, Weston, Prior, Gabbidon, Croft, Boland, Kavanagh, Whalley, Legg, Thorne, Earnshaw. Subs: Margetson, Campbell, Fortune-West, Maxwell, Barker.

Referee: J P Robinson (E Yorkshire)