Chronological Report:

Our visitors started confidently and it was them who had the first shot with Nicky Maynard's effort deflecting safely into Marshall's hands. It was obvious from the opening minutes that Bristol City would look to their pace up front to cause Cardiff problems, launching

Cardiff won a free kick in a dangerous position when captain Jamie McCombe fouled Jay Bothroyd, but Joe Ledley's failed to deliver a telling ball.

Chris Burke looked lively from the off and teased Robins' left back McAllister before sending a dangerous ball across the front of goal. Neither Michael Chopra nor Bothroyd could get in front of their markers and play resumed.

Mark Hudson was needed moments later when a Bristol City counter attack, spear headed by Danny Haynes, saw the ex Ipswich striker get to the by-line and play a ball across to Nicky Maynard on the edge of the six yard box. Maynard, was looking for a goal on his 250^th club career appearance but luckily for the Bluebirds Hudson managed to block his shot with a trailing leg.

The match was fast becoming an end to end battle with neither team able to get a foothold in possession.

Nicky Maynard threatened again after 15 minutes with a run and shot which dipped too late to cause worry for goalkeeper David Marshall.

Chris Burke though really should have given Cardiff the lead moments after when he brilliantly dribbled past both Bristol City centre backs and had just the 'keeper to beat. His quick feet took him past Dean Gerken and with the goal seemingly gaping, took the ball too wide and saw his shot from a tight angle blocked on the line. It was a clear missed opportunity for the home side to take a lead against their local rivals.

The Bluebirds had another golden chance to take the lead after 20 minutes. Joe Ledley fed Whittingham on the left after breaking into the box but couldn't finish past an advancing Gerken. It was a good save from the goalkeeper recruited from Colchester United in the summer.

Bristol City's new number 9 David Clarkson, an ex-team mate of Ross McCormack and Paul Quinn at Motherwell, should have given the Robin's a lead in the 27^th minute when Marvin Elliot picked a loose ball in the Cardiff area and sent a back post cross to Clarkson who's header was well defended out for a corner.

But back came the Bluebirds, and more in-box pinball ensued, culminating in Chopra and Whittingham both giving one another a chance to score, before Gavin Rae miskicked after a lucky deflection presented him with an opening. The first half hour was being played at a frenetic pace making for an exciting game of football.

Chris Burke was causing Bristol City all sorts of problems and got in behind and on the half hour mark but couldn't lift the ball over Gerken as he raced from his goal. Joe Ledley was instrumental in the move and caused trouble for the visitors when he powered his way past Liam Fontaine and tried putting a cross to the back post for Bothroyd but again the impressive Gerken came to the rescue.

And he was not done; Failing to clear sufficiently on 35 minutes he could only reach Paul Quinn on the half way line. The Scottish fullback tried his luck with a spectacular effort which was going in but for the long reaching arms of a backtracking Gerken.

If that was a let off for the Robin's, they were finally undone after 36 minutes. Cardiff won a corner on the right and teenager Adam Matthews, keeping his place at right back, played a ball to Burke who neatly flicked the ball over the Robin's fullback's head and back into the path of the overlapping Matthews. His low side footed cross was put across the area only for the unfortunate Bristol City Captain Jamie McCombe to direct it past his own keeper.

CARDIFF GOAL (36): OG McCombe

Bristol nearly equalised straight away. A floated freekick by Paul Hartley into the danger zone looked to be headed in the bottom corner by McCombe looking to make amends. But Marshall's save only fell to the feet of Marvin Elliot who hit the post from a matter of yards. It was a reminder of the quality the visitor's possessed as well as the ability of our new goalkeeper. There was also a booking for Lee Johnson, son of Bristol City manager Gary Johnson, in the resulting break away by Michael Chopra. He was hauled to the ground with space ahead.

Don't think that deterred the Bluebirds front man though. Already on six for the season, Michael Chopra added to his tally in first half added time. Burke again used his pace and trickey to run at the Bristol defence and play in Chopra who finished with the outside of the boot over Gerken. It was a goal of real quality from the Bluebirds and deserved on the run of play.

CARDIFF GOAL (45+2) MICHAEL CHOPRA

HALF TIME SCORE: Cardiff City 2 - 0 Bristol City

Bristol City made one change at half time with David Clarkson making way for fellow striker John Akinde. The Robin's had a chance to get back into the game early in the second half. Danny Haynes got a free kick out of Paul Quinn 20 yards which was taken by Lee Johnson. His effort was straight at Marshall who gathered at the second attempt.

Cardiff came back and could have extended their lead twice. First, Burke combined well again with Matthews before seeing his cross cleared off the line by a panicky Robin's defence, and secondly through Joe Ledley following Bothroyd's knockdown at the far post. The ball bounced unkindly for the stand-in Wales captain and he was unable to get a shot on goal.

The Bluebirds crowd responded and were willing their team to get a third. Gavin Rae, dominant in midfield alongside Ledley almost presented it. Burke laid off a cushioned ball on the edge of the area which Rae duly smashed towards goal. But instead of rippling the net, it was Chopra who took the full brunt of Rae's shot and it was eventually cleared.

Anthony Gerrard had to leave the field of battle temporarily with 10 minutes gone in the second half. His collision with Maynard required the centre back to receive treatment in the tunnel area.

Paul Hartley was put into the book by referee Kevin Friend a minute later. He fouled Bothroyd on the left.

Cardiff's were a constant threat, though Bristol City looked sharp on the counter attack. Peter Whittingham, in form so far this season, was left to rue a missed chance to put the game out of sight when he was played through into space in the area but saw his shot blocked by McCombe. McCombe was locked in a constant battle with Bothroyd and it was the big Cardiff striker who appeared to be coming out on top so far,

Maynard volleyed straight into Marshall's hands on 64 minutes as Bristol City started to put the Bluebirds under pressure. But Cardiff City put the game to bed with a counter attack of their own on 66 minutes. The outstanding Burke running at the Robin's retreating backline played in Gavin Rae who superbly timed his run and finished expertly into the bottom corner.

CARDIFF GOAL 3-0 GAVIN RAE

Cardiff have only enjoyed one league win over their Bristol counterparts in twenty-six meetings and Cardiff were out to make sure this particular meeting made up for years of underachievement against the team from across the bridge. Gerken was booked with half hour remaining after he came out to clear a ball but found himself in a race with the hard working Bothroyd. Needless to say it was Bothroyd who beat the 'keeper to the ball and the outcome saw the Cardiff target man laid out in the area. The big man did get up though and so play continued.

Cardiff fan Gavin Williams come on for Lee Johnson and Danny Haynes was replaced by ex-Hibernian winger Ivan Sproule as Gary Johnson threw his last rolls of the dice.

Dave Jones made his first substitution with just over 10 minutes remaining on the clock. Michael Chopra was given a rapturous ovation as he departed the field to make way for Kelvin Etuhu, making his first appearance since signing on loan from Man City.

By now Cardiff were in control and looking to get a fourth. Whittingham had a shot from outside the area which went well wide before Bristol City caught the Bluebirds defence knapping to get in behind. Substitute Akinde though could not find a team mate and his cross was cut out by Mark Hudson.

The match played out with both sides looking to get a goal for different purposes; Cardiff to rub salt into their opponent's wounds and Bristol City to reduce the deficit.

There was still time for Josh Magennis to come on for Jay Bothroyd. Bothroyd put in another excellent performance and has been a key performer so far this season. All in all a great afternoon for Cardiff City and the 20, 853 supporters who witnessed it.

FULL TIME SCORE: Cardiff City 3 - 0 Bristol City

Teams:

Cardiff: 1. David Marshall 4. Gavin Rae 5. Mark Hudson 7. Peter Whittingham 8. Michael Chopra 9. Jay Bothroyd 11. Chris Burke 14. Paul Quinn 15. Anthony Gerrard 16. Joe Ledley 27. Adam Matthews

Subs: 20. Peter Enkleman 6. Gabor Gyepes 10. Stephen McPhail 17. Kelvin Etuhu 23. Darcy Blake 24. Miguel Commingues 29.Josh Magennis

Bristol City: 22. Dean Gerken 3. Jamie McAllister 4. Liam Fontaine 5. Jamie McCombe7. Marvin Elliot 8 Lee Johnson 9. David Clarkson 10. Nicky Maynard 11. Paul Hartley 25. Brian Wilson 31. Danny Haynes

Subs: 35. Adrian Basso 6. Louis Carey 15. Gavin Williams 16. John Akinde 17. Ivan Sproule 19. Christian Ribiero 20. Andre Blackman