by Steve Garland, from the Ricoh Arena.

Snapshot

Peter Whittingham's penalty in second half stoppage time sealed a vital 2-1 victory for Cardiff over play-off rivals Coventry City at the Ricoh Arena, putting an end to a run of four consecutive away defeats.

The Bluebirds were forced to do it the hard way though, as some slack defending allowed Clinton Morrison to latch onto Aron Gunnarsson's long throw to put Cardiff on the back foot with half an hour gone.

But unlike in recent outings on the road, Cardiff found an instant response as Chris Burke fired home an equaliser less than ten minutes later; it was a goal that ensured the Bluebirds went into the break on a high and would come out in the second half searching for a winner.

City regained their momentum going into the second period and soon had a golden chance to take the lead. Mark Kennedy found Whittingham with a superb low cross into the six yard box, only for the Bluebirds' top scorer to scoop the ball over the cross bar when it looked easier to score.

Further chances came and went as first Ross McCormack and then Jay Bothroyd were thwarted by Coventry keeper Kieren Westwood. Whittingham finally beat the Irish International from the spot in second half stoppage time after a Martin Cranie handball inside the area.

Chronological Report

Cardiff arrived at the Ricoh Arena looking to put a string of poor results behind them against fellow play-off chasers Coventry City, a side who have only lost one of their last ten games.

The Bluebirds would have been pleased then to have had the majority of the possession in the opening ten minutes. Looking comfortable on the ball, it was City who were asking all the questions, albeit without testing goalkeeper Kieren Westwood in the Coventry goal.

The Sky Blues had struggled to make any inroads into the Cardiff half with a quarter of an hour gone, a weak effort from Clinton Morrison their only sight on the Cardiff goal. But as the game got into its stride, Chris Coleman's side started to show just why they were in the play-off mix, Morrison coming close with a near-post header just minutes later.

Cardiff's early momentum had now swayed to their opponents, the Coventry pairing of Aron Gunnarsson and Gary Deegan now getting the better of Stephen McPhail and Darcy Blake in the Bluebirds midfield. It brought the Sky Blues their best chance of the game with just over twenty five minutes gone, when Carl Baker's free-kick wide on the left flank eluded everyone before slipping just wide of the far post.

In truth, the first half an hour had been more of a tactical battle than the all guns blazing play-off clash everyone had hoped for, with neither team able to register a shot on target.

But that would soon change just minutes later as Gunnarsson wound up his latest rocket throw into the Cardiff penalty area. A tactic the Bluebirds defence had easily dealt with so far, the Icelandic international's throw was flicked on towards the far post, allowing Morrison to easily nod home to give the home side the lead.

GOAL: Coventry City 1-0 Cardiff City(Morrison, 31 mins)

It was all too familiar for the Bluebirds who had lost their last four on the road without scoring a single goal. The signs were ominous for City if they could not muster an instant response, against a Coventry side that had not yet been defeated at home this year.

Seven minutes later, Whittingham thought he had brought that response as he latched onto a superb ball from McPhail to slot home under the keeper, only to see the linesman with his flag up on the far side. But just two minutes later that much needed equaliser arrived as Chris Burke capitalised on a scramble inside the Coventry six yard area, caused by Jay Bothroyd's chip in from the far side. Whittingham was first thwarted by the Sky Blues defence, before the ball fell to Burke at the far post who happily fired home the leveller.

GOAL: Coventry City 1-1 Cardiff City (Burke, 40 mins)

The goal rallied the Bluebirds who instantly went looking for a second with Burke in-particular threatening on the right flank. A Whittingham effort was the only test for Westwood in goal, but Cardiff went into the break on a high thanks to Burke's equaliser.

HALF TIME: COVENTRY CITY 1-1 CARDIFF CITY

Cardiff City Substitution: Kevin McNaughton off - Gavin Rae on (45 mins)

Coventry City Substitution: Michael McIndoe off - David Bell on (45 mins)

Darcy Blake was pushed back into the centre half position to fill in for the departed Kevin McNaughton, but was rarely tested early on as Cardiff regained their momentum from the first half.

With a quiet opening to the second period, it was Cardiff who would get the first opportunity of the half and a golden one at that. Burke cut inside to find Bothroyd who was tripped on the edge of the penalty area. Appeals for a penalty went unnoticed though, allowing Mark Kennedy to hit a superb low cross into the path of Whittingham in the six yard area. The league's top goal scorer looked destined to add to his tally and give the Bluebirds the lead, but could only scoop his right footed effort high over the crossbar.

The Cardiff pressure was building however, and City soon had another opportunity to take the lead as McCormack was put through on goal. The Scot controlled the ball well and looked certain to give Cardiff the lead, but could only scuff his effort on goal on a rather unpredictable Ricoh Arena surface.

But the Bluebirds were starting to look like the promotion chasing side they were earlier in the season, forcing the home side to feed off scraps and long throws. Another chance soon came with twenty-five minutes to go as Burke superbly thread through Bothroyd in the penalty area. The former Coventry striker hit a first time effort towards goal, deflecting off his marker to force a superb save from Irish international Westwood.

Coventry City substitution: Jonathan Stead off - Freddy Eastwood on (70 mins)

The home side would ease the pressure in the next ten minutes as they resorted to Gunnarsson's long throw-ins to try and get the goal that would surely win the match. But the Bluebirds would regain their impetus as the game drew to a close, Bothroyd's latest effort keeping Westwood busy in the Coventry goal.

Cardiff City Substitution: Adam Matthews off - Paul Quinn on (81 mins)

Coventry City Substitution: Clinton Morrison off - Freddie Sears on (83 mins)

Cardiff looked to be heading for a draw, ruing a host of missed chances in the second half. But that would soon change as the game headed into injury time as referee Hooper awarded a penalty for a handball after consultation with his assistant. Whittingham stepped up to fire the ball home to the bottom right of the 'keeper in dramatic fashion.

GOAL: Coventry City 1-2 Cardiff City (Whittingham, 90 mins)

There was still time for Coventry to test the Cardiff goal however, as they bombarded David Marshall's area in the final seconds. Richard Wood's back post header almost rescued a point for the home side before rebounding off the cross bar.

It would signal the end of an enthralling game at the Ricoh Arena, in which Cardiff City got their play-off push back on track with a vital victory against one of their closest rivals.

FULL TIME: COVENTRY CITY 1-2 CARDIFF CITY

Full reaction to follow.