Ten-man Cardiff City hung on for a victory which lifted them into fourth place after Stephen McPhail was sent off in the 75th minute for a high tackle on Reading's Jem Karacan.

McPhail, back in place of Gavin Rae, inspired a first-half display which saw Cardiff enjoy enough possession to be ahead at half time, but the game sprang to life after the break.

Reading, chasing their first home win for eight months, forced great saves out of David Marshall from scorching shots by Brian Howard and Marek Matejovsky, before Noel Hunt stepped over the ball when it would have been easier to score as he stood unmarked on the City goal-line.

Cardiff cashed in on their luck when Chris Burke shot them ahead on 58 minutes. Peter Whittingham's cross from the left bypassed Jay Bothroyd and found Burke at the far post. City's wing wizard steadied himself, controlled the ball with his chest and fired into the roof of the net to the delight of the 2,106 Bluebirds fans behind the goal.

Chronological Report

At a cold and blustery evening at the Madejeski Stadium, Cardiff City got proceedings underway looking to quickly bounce back from their disappointing defeat to Newcastle on Sunday.

Facing a side that had not won a home league game since January, the Bluebirds got off to yet another slow start, Adam Matthews sloppily giving the ball away to gift Reading their first chance with less than a minute gone

Marek Matejovsky picked up the ball in the midfield and threaded through Noel Hunt inside the penalty area. Hunt shot well towards the bottom corner of the net, only denied by a good save from David Marshall.

It was a very early wake up call for the Bluebirds, but they were keeping possession well in midfield. The returning midfield pairing of Stephen McPhail and Joe Ledley allowed plenty of time to dictate play in the early stages.

But it was Reading who were posing more of a goal threat, Glyfi Sigurdsson given time and space to unleash an effort on goal, which fortunately for City flew just over the bar.

Cardiff were reducing Reading to long range efforts and with just over a quarter of an hour gone, a superb flowing move from Cardiff brought the first clear chance of the match. A superb Bothroyd flick on from a Hudson punt forward put Chopra free on the left, Chops returned the favour and picked out Jay just in side the box, but with time and space could only shoot tamely into the keepers arms, when he should have done better.

With a good spell of pressure, it was now the Bluebirds who looked the most likely to break the deadlock; but with players such as Brian Howard in their line up, the Royals could not be discounted.

Indeed every Royals move seemed to flow through the former Barnsley and Sheffield United man and it soon brought an opportunity as his floated through ball found Rasiak free in the penalty area. The Pole got a header towards goal only to see the linesman raise his flag for offside.

Recalled full backs Adam Matthews and Mark Kennedy were performing well, both staking their claims for a regular first team spot. But Matthews' game was ended early, as he picked up a groin injury with just over half an hour gone; the youngster replaced by Paul Quinn. Matthews is expected to miss Saturday's home m,atch with QPR.

Cardiff City Substitution: Adam Matthews off - Paul Quinn on (32 mins)

The loss of Matthews only signalled a superb spell of play from the Bluebirds however, as Bothroyd and Chopra once again linked up well up front. A superb one-two between the front men left Chopra bearing down on goal, but on his weaker left foot, could only scoop his effort wide of the right hand post.

Joe Ledley quickly got involved with the front pairing to bring another chance for City, some neat passing play allowing Jay Bothroyd to get a shot on goal from the edge of the area; his shot stinging the hands of Federici in goal.

It was a good first half showing for the Bluebirds, who despite the 0-0 scoreline looked the most likely to have taken the lead.

Half time: Reading 0-0 Cardiff City

After the inevitable half time dressing down by Brendan Rodgers a different Royals side emerged for the second half, immediately penning Cardiff in their own half in the opening stages.

Playmaker Brian Howard relished his new free role in the midfield and immediately tested Bluebirds keeper David Marshall with a superb left footed shot from 20 yards out. The effort seemed to be creeping inside the right hand post, before Marshall produced a superb save.

He was soon called into action again as Marek Matejovsky found time and space to shoot from the edge of the area, the Czech midfielder's shot looked destined for the top corner of the net, before Marshall saved well to force another corner.

Reading Substitution: Noel Hunt off - Simon Church on (56 minutes)

The game had been transformed at half time and was now a ridiculously open, but enjoyable affair as Cardiff looked to catch the Royals on the counter attack. And as Reading pushed for the opener, it was Cardiff who took the lead against the run of play.

Peter Whittingham broke down the left and whipped in a superb cross towards Jay Bothroyd. Bothroyd and two defenders missed it, but it fell to the unmarked Chris Burke at the back post, who had time to take a touch before smashing it into the back of the net and past Federici in the Reading goal.

GOAL: Reading 0-1 Cardiff City (Chris Burke 57 mins)

As the 2,106 travelling Cardiff fans were still celebrating the opener, Chris Burke had a chance to double City's lead with their very next attack. Getting some joy down the left flank, Mark Kennedy pushed forward and whipped in a low cross which was yet again missed by the Reading defence. Burke was waiting at the far post to convert for his second and looked certain to do so, before getting the ball trapped under his feet, allowing Reading to clear.

The game eventually calmed down, but it would only be for a short period, as with just over 15 minutes to go, Gregorz Rasiak lifted a superb ball over the top for Welsh International Simon Church to chase. Church did well and hit a placed effort towards goal but just crept wide of the left hand post.

And if that did not make the travelling Bluebirds tense enough, things got a lot harder for the Bluebirds as Stephen McPhail was given his marching orders soon after; Referee Paul Taylor producing a debatable straight red card for McPhail's high boot challenge on Jem Karacan.

RED CARD: Stephen McPhail (High challenge 75 mins)

It was the third red card referee Paul Taylor had handed to a Cardiff player in two games, having sent off Ross McCormack and Gabor Gyepes in City's home encounter with Sheffield United last season. It was a fact not lost on the travelling support who ensured that the referee knew what they thought of his performance.

Cardiff City Substitution: Joe Ledley off - Solomon Taiwo on (86 mins)

Memories of last seasons visit to the Madejski Stadium quickly came to the forefront of the mind, as the closing stages became a matter of just whether Cardiff could hold onto their lead.

Darren O'Dea missed Reading's first chance from a Brian Howard corner, before threatening substitute Jimmy Kebe provided a superb cross into the six yard box that was just scooped clear by Paul Quinn at the far post.

Five minutes of added time were signalled and you guessed it, Reading keeper Adam Federici pushed forward for a late Reading corner. Howard whipped the ball into the box before falling to the goalkeeper in the penalty area. Federici had the audacity to attempt an extremely acrobatic effort, but pulled it off but this time could not net the late equaliser as David Marshall saved well.

Just moment's later referee Taylor blew the whistle on an exhilarating game at the Madjeski Stadium. Cardiff had held on and claimed a vital win to move up to 4th in the Championship.

Full Time: Reading 0-1 Cardiff City

Teams:

Reading: Adam Federici, Marek Matejovsky, Noel Hunt (Simon Church, 56), Jem Karacen (Jimmy Kebe, 79), Gregorz Rasiak, Ryan Bertrand, Glyfi Sigurdsson, Alex Pearce, Brian Howard, Shaun Cummings, Darren O'Dea

Subs not used: Kalifa Cisse, Matt Mills, Jay Tabb, Ivar Ingimarsson, Ben Hamer.

Cardiff City: David Marshall, Adam Matthews (Paul Quinn, 32), Mark Kennedy, Mark Hudson, Anthony Gerrard, Stephen McPhail (Sent off, 75), Joe Ledley (Soloman Taiwo,86), Peter Whittingham, Michael Chopra (Gavin Rae, 78), Jay Bothroyd, Chris Burke.

Subs not used: Peter Enckelman, Gabor Gyepes, Tony Capaldi, Paul Quinn, Josh Magennis.