by Steve Garland, from the Walkers Stadium

Snapshot

A stunning Peter Whittingham free kick ensured that the Bluebirds earned a 1-0 victory and a vital advantage over Leicester City in the first leg of the Play-off semi final at the Walkers Stadium.

In truth it could have been more. Two first half opportunities would be spurned by Chopra as he failed to hit the back of the net from six yards out on both occasions. Jay Bothroyd then should have given City the lead early on in the second half, but could only head over the bar from a superb Kevin McNaughton cross from the right.

But just when you thought the Bluebirds chances had come and gone, Peter Whittingham fired them ahead with just under a quarter of an hour to go from a superb free kick from the edge of the penalty area.

Leicester would ultimately respond as they looked to at least take something to the Cardiff City Stadium, but chances were wasted by Matty Fryatt and then Paul Gallagher. Indeed Cardiff would have the opportunity to bury the tie in stoppage time as Ross McCormack was put through one on one with keeper Weale, but the substitute could only fire his shot into the Leicester stopper.

With five minutes of stoppage time to play, Leicester would return to bombard the Cardiff area looking to level the scores, but were denied by two excellent interventions by first Mark Hudson and then David Marshall. City now take a vital one goal advantage into the play-off second leg on Wednesday night.

Chronological Report

It was the moment we had all been waiting for. Cardiff City took on a Leicester City side at an electric Walkers Stadium in the first leg of the play-off semi final.

Whichever way you looked at it, Cardiff were in for a stern test against a Leicester side searching for consecutive promotions and in a rich vein of form. But the early signs were good for the Bluebirds as they pushed forward from the off.

Apart from a Jay Bothroyd shot from nothing skimming the near post, City's early pressure failed to result in any clear cut opportunity. It soon allowed the home side to put David Marshall's goal under severe pressure, testing the Scottish stopper from a series of Swansea-esque in-swinging corners.

Corners aside, City were looking relatively comfortable against a Leicester side that knew they had to earn an advantage in front of their home fans to take to the Cardiff City Stadium on Wednesday. As a result a relatively nervy encounter ensued, twenty minutes into both sides' quest for play-off glory.

But then came the first clear cut chance of the game and it fell to Michael Chopra in the Leicester penalty area. Some good build up play allowed City's front pairing to combine in the area, leaving Chopra with a golden chance to take the lead on the edge of the area, only to skew his shot well wide of the far post.

Another nervy ten minutes would follow as Leicester looked to be struggling to gain any real impetus in this game in front of an expectant home following. Indeed, it was Cardiff who were showing signs of breaking the deadlock, this time through Darcy Blake whose audacious over head kick deserved a goal on pure merit, although it was easily saved by Leicester keeper Chris Weale.

The Bluebirds were increasing the pressure on the Foxes and with just five minutes remaining of the first half, their best chance came. Chris Burke broke clear down the right flank to whip a low cross towards the near post, Chopra was there ready and waiting to steer the ball home on the edge of the six yard box, but could only hit the near post with Foxes keeper Weale beaten.

It was proving not to be Chopra's day in front of goal having spurned two opportunities to give the Bluebirds an advantage, but nevertheless City would have been happy to go into the break on level terms and the with the pressure firmly on the home side for the second half.

HALF TIME: LEICESTER CITY 0-0 CARDIFF CITY

The Bluebirds returned for the second half looking to regain their impetus from the first, and instantly created another golden opportunity to break the deadlock. Good build up play on the right flank between Burke and McNaughton allowed the full back to whip in a deadly cross towards Bothroyd. But with his marker beaten, Bothroyd could only nod the ball over the cross bar to the relief of the Leicester faithful.

The Foxes would respond however with a period of pressure to worry the City defence. Jay Spearing would first come close with a hopeful but almost effective low shot from twenty yards that would just skim the near post. There would soon to be further signs of worry however as Matty Fryatt took to the field, looking to use his proven goal scoring record to give the Foxes an advantage.

Leicester City Substitution: Lloyd Dyer off - Matty Fryatt on (61 mins)

Fryatt would make little impression on the Leicester attack however as the Foxes continued to threaten through their set piece opportunities. Waghorn yet again threatened with an in swinging corner with just under twenty minutes to go only for the superb Mark Hudson to clear under severe pressure in the six yard box.

Cardiff City Substitution: Chris Burke off - Kelvin Etuhu on (74 mins)

Leicester City Substitution: Martyn Waghorn off - Yann Kermorgant on (75 mins)

But just when you thought that Cardiff had spurned their best opportunities of the game, Peter Whittingham gave the Bluebirds the lead with a superb free kick from the edge of the area. Given for a rather soft foul on Michael Chopra, Whittingham took his time before hitting a rifle of a shot towards the near post, clipping the upright before hitting the back of the net.

GOAL: LEICESTER CITY 0-1 CARDIFF CITY (Peter Whittingham 77 mins)

Instead of sitting on their advantage, Cardiff looked to kill the tie off as they pushed forward for their second. It was almost their downfall however, as City were caught with too many players up field as Leicester broke with Matty Fryatt. The twelve goal striker shrugged off attempts by McNaughton and Kennedy to put himself one on one with David Marshall, but the Scot stayed strong to thwart the striker.

Leicester City Substitution: Richie Wellens off - Dany N'Guessan on (85 mins)

With time running out for Leicester to take anything from this tie, Fryatt was again pivotal in their next opportunity as he thread through Paul Gallagher on the edge of the area. Gallagher's curling effort would just go wide of the far post however.

Cardiff City Substitution: Michael Chopra off - Ross McCormack on (90 mins)

As the Bluebirds looked to hold onto their advantage as five minutes of stoppage time were announced, they almost buried the tie as Joe Ledley found substitute Ross McCormack open on the edge of the area. Left with just Weale to beat, McCormack looked to double City's advantage only for the Foxes stopper to save well at the Scot's feet.

Leicester soon returned to bombard the City back line in search of an equaliser though, again threatening through a series of corners. First City's superb skipper Hudson cleared with a last ditch header, before a further corner was headed towards goal by Andy King. The Welsh International looked certain to have levelled the scores, only for a tremendous outstretched save by Marshall.

It ensured most inside the Walkers Stadium were left frustrated by the score line, but not the Bluebirds. Peter Whittingham's superb free kick was enough to give them a vital advantage heading into the Cardiff City Stadium on Wednesday night.

FULL TIME: LEICESTER CITY 0-1 CARDIFF CITY

Full match report to follow