In front of a bumper, energized and seriously loud crowd at the Cardiff City Stadium it was our visitors that had the better of the opening exchanges by hogging and recycling the ball superbly throughout their midfield.

Joey Barton was being deployed in an unaccustomed left sided role, but looked strong on the ball early on and caused Paul Quinn some problems, not least by winning a series of corners. City captain Mark Husdon however was looking resolute in defence and made two telling headers to keep the scores level.

Cardiff's first launching pad came through the ever-lively Chris Burke who was brought down by Alan Smith out on the right flank, but Peter Whittingham's resulting free-kick was too deep which allowed Steve Harper to come a long way off his line to claim the ball cleanly.

The game was being played at a blistering tempo and with Newcastle perfectly executing a pressing tactic high up the field, it ensured that Cardiff were unable to play their usual composed passing game and as a result really struggled to find any kind of foothold in the match.

The first fifteen minutes passed without any major incidents or too much concern for the home side despite Newcastle's possession and territorial dominance. That all changed in the eighteenth minute however when Nile Ranger nodded down a deep corner at the back post and caused panic in the Cardiff box. The ball was eventually recycled back out to Ryan Taylor who this time picked out Fabrizio Coloccini who rose and flicked a header past David Marshall in the City goal.

Cardiff City 0 - 1 NEWCASTLE UNITED (Fabrizio Coloccini 18mins)

A pumped up Michael Chopra had to wait twenty-two minutes for his first meaningful touch of the game when he dropped deep and was allowed to turn and run at the Newcastle back four. Kevin Nolan did well to track his run and get a toe to the ball whilst in pursuit, only for the ball to squirm into the path of Jay Bothroyd. His shot from twenty-five yards was deflected wide.

Cardiff best move of the opening half hour saw Joe Ledley play a delightful pass over the top of the Toon back four, allowing Chopra to race on to the ball down the right of the box and volley a pass square to Gavin Rae, who arrived tussling with Steven Taylor. Taylor's attention did enough to prevent Rae from controlling his effort and he ballooned the ball into the Canton Stand.

Cardiff were finally on the ascendancy and while it may not be the prettiest path to success it was the direct tactic from front to back that was serving Cardiff well. Ledley found some space on the left and picked out a deep cross towards Burke, only for Jose Enrique to get in a vital block that diverted the ball back to the edge of the area and allowed Ledley to try his luck with a low drive that was well blocked by a swarm of custard coloured Newcastle jerseys.

Moments later Enrique drew the first booking of the game when a tug quelled Chris Burke's surge towards the visiting area, Smith had to stoop to divert a drilled Whittingham free-kick over his own bar and then the defence held strong as Cardiff piled on the pressure with three consecutive corners.

City ended the half much the stronger and with Chopra becoming an increasingly influential figure on proceedings despite having to survive on just scraps of supply from the midfield. Danny Guthrie became the second Newcastle player to be booked when he was caught in possession by Bothroyd around half-way and pulled back the Cardiff No.9 to prevent him from launching a counter attack.

A free-kick from thirty yards out brought the half to a close and Chopra's effort struck the wall before Whittingham's follow up shot was easily fielded at the near post by Harper.

HALF TIME: Cardiff City 0 - 1 NEWCATLE UNITED

With the second period just six minutes old Cardiff carved out a glorious chance to level things up. Chopra got free down the left hand side and ran at Colccini, advancing to the edge of the box. He cut inside onto his right and drew a further two defenders which allowed him to slip a ball through to Bothroyd. Jay was on his heels slightly which meant both he and Harper went to ground in an almighty collision that brought about treatment for them both.

Newcastle United Substitution: Peter Lovenkrands for Danny Guthrie (62mins)

Cardiff were beginning to boss the game and they had another superb scoring chance just after the hour when Bothroyd was hauled down on the edge of the area by Steven Taylor. It was great shooting position and Chopra touched the ball off to Jay to do just that, but the Newcastle chasers were suspiciously quick off their marks and easily blocked the shot.

To the delight of the Cardiff faithful Alan Smith soon found his way into the ref's little black book for what I assume can only be for persistent infractions as the challenge on Ledley that actually drew the card was a very harsh decision indeed.

Cardiff City Substitution: Kelvin Etuhu for Peter Whittingham (68mins)

Burke had the next sight of goal for City when our visitors failed to clear their lines from a corner and the Scot slipped in down the right and drove a low shot across goal, only for Harper to get down well to smother. Etuhu's first involvement also brought a positive chance when he rampaged forward from midfield, running at Danny Simpson and looking to pick out Chopra in the box, only for the final ball to be just a foot or so behind Chops.

Cardiff continued to pour forward in desperate search of what was becoming an arguable deserved equaliser. Bothroyd came close to grabbing it when he glanced a Chris Burke free-kick just wide of the far post as the excellent Mark Hudson also rose with intent behind him - and may have had the better sight at goal.

Newcastle United Substitution: Nicky Butt for Ryan Taylor (77mins)

As our visitors dropped deeper and deeper it became a back to the wall effort late on and Burke was looking increasingly busy out on the right. It was he who picked out Chopra in the box on the eight-second minute mark, but Taylor going to ground blocked Chops' effort on the turn, resulting in a penalty claim for handball which was waved away quickly by the officials.

Newcastle United Substitution: Geremi for Joey Barton (87mins)

Further late drama was provided by fan favourite Alan Smith who saw red for a desperate lunge on Jay Bothroyd after the City striker had turned away from Coloccini and in on goal. It was mere inches away from being a penalty, but City had to make do with a second yellow for the instrumental Smith and one final shooting chance from the close-range free-kick. Burke shifted the ball to the right and to Chopra who looking to make himself an ever bigger hero to the Cardiff fans, but once again the Newcastle wall functioned to perfection and blocked the effort.

SENT OFF: Alan Smith (Second Bookable Offence - 89mins)

FULL TIME: Cardiff City 0 - 1 NEWCASTLE UNITED

Cardiff City: Marshall, Capalid, Gerrard, Hudson, Quinn, Whittingham (Etuhu 68), Rae, Ledley, Burke, Bothroyd, Chopra.

Subs not used: Enckelman, Matthews, Kennedy, Gyepes, Taiwo, McPhail.

Newcastle United: Harper, Enrique, S. Taylor, Coloccini, Simpson, Barton (Geremi 87), Smith (Sent Off 89), Nolan, Guthrie (Lovenkrands 62), R. Taylor (Butt 77), Ranger.

Subs not used: Krul, Kadar, Donaldson, Lua Lua.

Attendance: 25,360

Fans Man of the Match: Chris Burke