Cardiff 3-1 Cheltenham

Leo Fortune West: Overhead effort for Cardiff's opener

Cardiff City stretched their unbeaten run to 11 games after defeating Cheltenham 3-1 at Ninian Park.

Leo Fortune-West's overhead kick in the 30th minute set the Bluebirds on their way against an abrasive Cheltenham side led by Julian Alsop who was sent off in last week's FA Cup meeting between the two sides.

The second half was only three minutes old when the visitors were again reduced to 10 men when Mike Duff was dismissed for elbowing Fortune-West in front of the referee.

The Bluebirds were playing with confidence and Robert Earnshaw stroked home his 16th goal of the season four minutes after Duff's dismissal.

Cheltenham reduced the arrears with 10 minutes left when substitute Mark Devaney prodded a loose ball home at the far post.

But City restored their two-goal advantage straight from the kick off when Paul Brayson chipped the keeper from 12 yards.

Cardiff: Walton, McCulloch, Weston, Young, Low, Gabbidon, Legg, Bonner, Fortune-West, Earnshaw, Bowen.
Subs: Brayson, Nogan, Eckhardt, Collins, Thompson.

Cheltenham: Book, Duff, Banks, Freeman, Howells, Grayson, McAuley, Yates, Milton, Alsop, McCann.
Subs: Bloomer, Higgs, White, Devaney, Jackson.

Referee: P Dowd (Stoke-on-Trent).