Town's run of away games without a win reached 13 as Cardiff defeated the Blues 1-0 at Ninian Park. Despite hitting the post in the opening minute, Town rarely looked like scoring and Paul Parry's first half goal proved to be the winner.
Boss Jim Magilton sprung a surprise by naming Gavin Williams in the starting line-up for the first time this season. The Welsh international, a Cardiff fan, came in on the left of a four-man midfield with Billy Clarke dropping to the bench. Otherwise it was the same side which bet Bristol City 6-0 a fortnight ago and, with the addition of Williams, arguably Town's strongest line-up.
Former Cardiff striker Alan Lee, who like fellow ex-Bluebird Neil Alexander was applauded by their old fans before kick-off, came close to putting the white-shirted Blues in front within 15 seconds of the start having been sent away on the left. The Irishman lobbed keeper Kasper Schmeichel but the ball rebounded off the post.
Referee Tony Bates showed the first yellow card of the game in the third minute. Cardiff defender Glenn Loovens made a spectacular bid for a penalty as the Blues cleared a corner, much to the annoyance of Jason De Vos and other Town players. Loovens shoved De Vos and Bates issued the caution, although it was unclear whether it was for the dive or the push.
Dan Harding belted a freekick from just outside the area well over, then Jason De Vos picked up a booking for a foul on Steven Thompson with the game still only six minutes old.
Neil Alexander pushed Thompson's sharp effort from 25 yards round the post, prior to Chris Gunter hitting a shot across the face of goal from the right.
The over-fussy Mr Bates had his yellow card out again in the 11th minute after Joe Ledley had gone in late on Dan Harding.
Despite the early chance, Town had been very much second best in the opening phase of the match, but on 12 neat work on the edge of the area involving Williams and Couñago created a chance for Alan Lee to shoot from the edge of the area, but his strike was too close to Schmeichel.
Six minutes later, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink curled a freekick over the bar from 25 yards.
The game's decisive moment came in the 32nd minute. Parry brought the ball forward from halfway before cutting in at the edge of the area and hitting a shot which beat Alexander. It was a fine strike by the Welsh international, although the Town defence had given him far too much space.
Cardiff came close to a second a minute later when Hasselbaink sent a low ball across the box, Dan Harding making a decisive challenge in ahead of Thompson.
Tommy Miller was booked for a foul on Hasselbaink on 39, before the Dutchman curled a shot over from inside the area.
As the half moved into injury time, De Vos blocked a Hasselbaink strike. Soon after, Tommy Miller hit a 20-yard freekick into the wall, Jon Walters's rebound deflecting wide, although the referee awarded a goalkick.
Town had been largely disappointing with passes going astray throughout the first half and with too many players putting in quiet displays, while Cardiff looked hungrier and more determined.
The game's flow hadn't been helped by the whistle and card happy referee. Tony Bates showed players from both sides yellow cards for innocuous offences, but failed to caution Darren Purse and Stephen McPhail for cynical fouls late in the half.
The Blues started the second period brightly but without testing Schmeichel, while Alexander was similarly a spectator in the early stages.
On 57 Danny Haynes replaced Pablo Couñago, the Spaniard again unable to replicate his hope form away from Portman Road. Eight minutes later Gavin Williams became he third Town player to get his name in Mr Bates's book.
Haynes became the fourth on 66 after what looked like an accidental clash with Loovens, although the Cardiff players were keen to suggest to the officials that Haynes had used an elbow.
The half's first shot came in the 67th minute, but McPhail failed to hit the target. Three minutes later, Billy Clarke replaced the unusually quiet Owen Garvan, the midfielder perhaps not entirely over his thigh injury. Clarke went to the left of midfield with Gavin Williams moving into the centre.
Danny Haynes managed Town's first effort of the second period on 73, but his 25-yard strike flew wide of Schmeichel's right post.
A Cardiff freekick on the left flew across the Town box, before the Blues' best chance of the second half. Williams's corner from the right dropped to Tommy Miller inside the area, but the former Sunderland man's strike was cleared off the line by Parry with no Town player able to seize on the loose ball.
In injury time, a Jon Walters flick almost played in Haynes, but Darren Purse was across to clear what was Town's final chance of the match.
Once again the Blues were nothing like the side which has been so dominant at home this season. Town only fleetingly passed the ball with the fluency which saw Bristol City taken apart a fortnight ago.
Cardiff gave the Town players little time on the ball and all too often possession was surrendered too easily in midfield areas. Few chances were created and Kasper Schmeichel had what must have been one of the quietest afternoons of his career.
There were under-par performances throughout the side with the front two rarely worrying the home defenders, although they appeared to be the victims of a somewhat overzealous linesman on a couple of occasions in the second half.
Gavin Williams's influence grew as the game wore on, although the Welshman was understandably rusty after such a long spell out of first team action.
The run of away games without a win is now up to 12 in the league and 13 overall. While Town were a touch unlucky not to break their duck at QPR, Burnley and on a number of other occasions, Jim Magilton's men never looked like getting the better of Cardiff. The next opportunity to end the dismal away run comes at Bristol City on December 4th.
Town: Alexander, Wright, Harding, De Vos, Bruce, Garvan (Clarke 70), Miller, Walters, Williams, Lee, Couñago (Haynes 57). Unused: Supple, Wilnis, Legwinski. Att: 15.173.