by Ashley James and Mark Denham

Extended highlights of this game will be on Cardiff City World at 16:45 on Monday

Snapshot: The Bluebirds were faced with an uphill battle on Sunday afternoon as two first half dismissals to Gabor Gyepes and Ross McCormack helped the visitors take the points. Gyepes was dismissed initially after the Referee deemed the big Hungarian to have tripped Darius Henderson who was clear through on goal. David Cotterill stepped up to slot the ball past Stuart Taylor to give United the lead and it wasn't long before more was to go the visitors way; Ross McCormack was shown red minutes later after being adjudged to have elbowed Kyle Naughton on the near touchline.

Nine-man City were two behind moments in to the second half when subsitute Jamie Ward headed home unmarked from a corner-kick. Faced with the un-enviable task of finding two goals against a full strength United, City showed plenty of effort and ambition but to no avail. United scored their third in the dying minutes of the game when Stephen Quinn broke in to the area to fire past Taylor and secure the three points.

Team News: Cardiff made three changes from the nail-biting victory over Watford in mid-week. Penalty hero Ross McCormack dropped into a wide position in the absence of Paul Parry which allowed Jay Bothroyd and Michael Chopra to team together up front. Gavin Rae returned to the centre of midfield in place of Stephen McPhail who dropped to the bench following two matches back in the starting line-up while Mark Kennedy returned to left-back after missing the last four matches with a hamstring strain. On the bench Quincy Owusu-Abeyie made a return to the match day squad after being left out for the last two matches, while Eddie Johnson and Peter Whittingham provided further replacement attacking options.

Chronological Report: Cardiff started brightly clearly intent on not leaving a result so late this match. Joe Ledley found the chest of Jay Bothroyd after three minutes with a lofted pass and Jay in turn found the run of Michael Chopra only for Kyle Naughton to recover with a superb sliding tackle at the edge of the box.

Sheffield United responded in kind through Welsh International David Cotterill who turned inside and out on the left looking for shooting room. He eventually lifted a ball into the box that evaded everyone and Stuart Taylor mistakenly allowed the ball to bounce in the area, it skipped off the turf and struck the back post before running clear.

The first clear chance arrived courtesy of a Cardiff corner on the ten minute mark following some good combination work down the right between Ross McCormack and Mark Kennedy. Ledley swung over the corner and Gabor Gyepes rose through a crowd of players at the back post only to nod wide.

The match had thus far been a tentative affair and Greg Halford broke the malaise with a well executed chip from the edge of the area that forced Taylor to back-peddle manically and tip the ball over.

A moment of calm circled around Ninian Park before the impending storm in the twenty-first minute as Chris Morgan and Jay Bothroyd receive lengthy treatment following a whole-hearted mid-air collision.

In the twenty-fourth minute the game exploded into life quite literally. Greg Halford lofted a delightful long-ball forward that caught the two Cardiff centre-backs cold. Darius Henderson brought the ball down with a wonderful first touch that sent him in on goal and Gyepes scrambled back to make the challenge, Henderson went down under the outstretched leg and the referee Mr Taylor awarded a penalty. If that decision was slightly harsh what followed was extremely so as the Hungarian was given his marching orders with a straight red card. Dave Cotterill tucked away the penalty to confound Cardiff's misery.

Sending Off: Gabor Gyepes (Professional Foul 25mins)

Cardiff City 0 - 1 SHEFFIELD UNITED (David Cotterill PEN 26mins)

Cardiff City Substitution: Miguel Comminges for Michael Chopra (27mins)

Dave Jones was forced into a formation re-shuffle which saw the unfortunate Chopra withdrawn for Comminges as Mark Kennedy slotted into central defence. Still it was United that were full of confidence and another Halford ball over the top sprung Henderson once more who looked to lob Taylor only to be called back and then booked for a hand-ball.

Cardiff City Substitution: Stephen McPhail for Chris Burke (31mins)

If things weren't going Cardiff's way already they were about to get ten time worse as Mr Taylor produced his second red card to send the Ninian faithful apoplectic. McCormack went into a aerial challenge with Kyle Naughton in front of the dug-out's on the left hand touchline, the Blades full-back went own clutching his face despite Ross looking tohave his arms down at his side. Taylor adjudged to have witnessed an act of violent conduct and promptly showed a red card to the Scotsman.

Sending Off: Ross McCormack (Violent Conduct 33mins)

Unsurprisingly there space opening up all over the pitch for the Sheffield players and Halford very nearly took advantage cutting in from the right of the box and hitting a firm shot straight at Taylor who beat it away comfortably.

Despite their two man disadvantage Cardiff had a great chance to level things up in the thirty-ninth minute when Roger Johnson rose to flick-on a Kennedy free-kick, he couldn't get a clean contact which allowed Gavin Rae to nod goal-ward behind him and forced Nick Montgomery to hoof the ball up and over his own bar.

Sheffield United Subtitution: Jaime Ward for Greg Halford (41mins)

Incredible scenes as the Blades manager took off Halford who had easily been the best player on the pitch until that point. Halford was replaced by Northern Irish forward Jaime ward and Halford seemed as angry with Blackwell as the Cardiff supporters were with the ref as he refused to acknowledge his boss on the way off the pitch before slamming the dug-out in understandable frustration.

Cardiff needed to escape into the dressing room just the goal down at half time in an attempt to regroup for the second period and did so thanks to Stuart Taylor. A Cotterill cross was flicked on at towards the back post and Craig Morgan left it to Naughton who drilled a shot across goal which Taylor turned around the post.

Half Time: Cardiff City 0 - 1 SHEFFIELD UNITED

If the mission ahead of Cardiff wasn't already impossible it certainly was a minute into the second half as the diminutive Ward popped unmarked just a couple of yards out to nod home Cotterill's corner.

Cardiff City 0 - 2 SHEFFIELD UNITED (Jaime Ward 46mins)

Not that it was ever going to live up to the first forty-five but the majority of the second half was incredibly uneventful as Cardiff coped admirably with their clearly relaxed visitors. Gavin Rae had a chance to bring the Bluebirds back into the match after sixty-five minutes when he collected a lovely pass from McPhail before cutting in on his left but dragged the shot wide wide his weaker foot.

Cardiff were actually in the ascendency and Rae was again instrumental playing the ball inside to Ledley who evaded two challenges before fizzing a shot just over the bar from twenty-five yards.

Sheffield United Substitution: Craig Beattie and Darius Henderson (70mins)

Beattie very nearly announced his arrival in fine style as he was played in down the left hand channel and arched a ball across goal and wide of the far post despite having support runners screaming to be played in inside.

Cardiff City Substitution: Eddie Johnson for Jay Bothroyd (76mins)

Mr taylor seemed to be going out of his way to incense the Cardiff players and fans alike and he awarded another astonishing decision after eighty-two minutes. Ward clattered McNaughton near halfway leaving Kev clearly in agony and clutching his lower leg. The culprit slinked off to the side-lines to grab a drink and not only escaped a booking but a free-kick also as the ref awarded just a drop ball.

Sheffield United Substitution: Artuto Lupoli for David Cotterill (84mins)

Cardiff had performed more than admirably in the second period despite all the factors stacked against them and were extremely unfortunate to concede a third late on. Stephen Quinn was played into the inside left position and finished nicely across Taylor. The move was well worked but then again it was against a team playing with nine men and who were still committing men forward in attack.

Cardiff City 0 - 3 SHEFFIELD UNITED (Stephen Quinn 87mins)

Full Time: Cardiff City 0 - 3 Sheffield United

Cardiff City: Taylor, McNaughton, Gyepes (sent off 25mins), R. Johnson, Kennedy, Burke (McPhail 31mins), Ledley, Rae, McCormack (sent off 33mins), Bothroyd (E. Johnson 76mins), Chopra (Comminges 26mins).

Subs not used: Whittingham, Owusu-Abeyie.

Sheffield United: Kenny, Naughton, Morgan, Kilgallon, Naysmith, Halford (Ward 41mins), Quinn, O'Toole, Montgomery, Cotterill (Lupoli 84mins), Henderson (Beattie 70mins).

Subs not used: Howard, Bromby.

Referee: Mr P. Taylor

Attendance: 17,942