The Bluebirds battled to a hard-fought away victory on Saturday afternoon, digging deep for three points at the Sixfields Stadium.
Brian Barry-Murphy named three changes to the side that started last time out in the league, with Isaak Davies, Ryan Wintle and Will Fish all returning to the starting lineup.
The Bluebirds began on the front foot as they looked to fashion some early chances, utilising Davies and Omari Kellyman effectively in the wide positions. The two paired nicely as Isaak’s deep cross found Kellyman near the back post, forcing his squared header towards the middle of the box to be quickly cleared away.
City pulled ahead in the eighth minute of play thanks to a terrific early strike from Joel Colwill. Receiving a pass just inside the area, the midfielder turned and struck from a tough angle, sending the ball flying in at the far post and past the firm grasp of ‘keeper Ross Fitzsimons, who could get only a hand to the effort.
Looking for a response, the hosts tested City with a number of chances as the half progressed. Chief among them came efforts from Michael Forbes and Tyrese Fornah, with neither able to hit the target from promising positions, and the Bluebirds recovering well to deny further chances on the rebound.
Countering well with a few minutes remaining of the half, Joel Bagan played Isaak Davies in down the left. Darting in towards the area, his drilled cross looked promising as he sought out Yousef Salech, though Fitzsimons stepped off his line to intercede claim the ball.
Nathan Trott was called into action for the final big chance before the interval, diving low to push Jack Perkins’ strike away, with City defenders once again on hand to clear the loose ball from danger.
Following the break, Northampton resumed their offensive as they continued the search for an equaliser. Will Fish made a crucial intervention early on, sliding in to keep a low cross away from danger and clearing for a corner-kick.
Right before the hour mark, the Cobblers found their responding goal, though the score wouldn’t remain level for long.
Minutes after Ethan Wheatley equalised with a well-placed shot inside the City area, the striker turned Bagan’s corner-kick into his own net, misplacing an attempted clearance.
City had the ball in the back of the net again with little over 15 minutes remaining, though Yousef Salech was adjudged to have committed a foul before he headed home from David Turnbull’s inviting cross.
With the hosts piling on more pressure in the final minutes, the Bluebirds put their bodies on the line to maintain their lead, with skipper Calum Chambers marshalling his backline well throughout.
Nathan Trott pulled off two humongous saves in as many minutes to deny both Wheatley and Elliott List, before City delivered the knockout blow to down the Cobblers.
Breaking on the counter in injury time, Ronan Kpakio took off down the pitch with the ball at his feet and the wind at his back. Beating each defender in turn, he found support in Chris Willock, who received a pass before dispatching a curling shot that found top corner, doubling the lead for the Bluebirds in style.
Seeing out the remainder, the final whistle confirmed three points for City, who had to dig deep throughout a battling performance in Northamptonshire.
FINAL SCORE: NORTHAMPTON TOWN 1-3 CARDIFF CITY
Cardiff City: Trott, Kpakio, Fish (Osho 81’), Chambers, Bagan, Wintle, J. Colwill (Robertson 58’), R. Colwill (Turnbull 19’), Kellyman (Ng 58’), Davies (Willock 58’), Salech. Subs: Turner, Robinson.