Town’s undefeated run was halted at eight games as Cardiff came from a goal down to beat the Blues 3-1 at the Cardiff City Stadium. Daryl Murphy put Town ahead with a brilliant strike in the 29th minute, Peter Whittingham equalised with a similarly special effort on 37, before Federico Macheda netted two minutes after the break and Adam Le Fondre added the third on 69.
Skipper Luke Chambers and top scorer Murphy returned to an otherwise unchanged side with Tommy Smith dropping to the bench.
Stephen Hunt, who made his first start of the season in the 1-1 draw with Blackburn on Saturday, was amongst those who travelled but were omitted from the 18, along with Darren Ambrose and Alex Henshall. Youngster Matt Clarke was again named on the bench.
The Blues started the stronger and on four Murphy, returning after an achilles problem, brought the ball forward to the edge of the box before shanking his shot high and wide.
Cardiff were the first side to seriously threaten in the 13th minute when Anthony Pilkington curled a looping effort goalwards which Dean Gerken palmed over the bar, Christophe Berra having blocked the former Norwich man’s initial shot.
From the resultant corner, Conor Sammon missed Whittingham’s corner which somehow avoided everyone in the six-yard box until it reached Macheda beyond the far post. The former Manchester United man looked to cut the ball back and Cole Skuse did well to hook it away ahead of the awaiting Bluebirds.
As heavy rain joined the swirling wind, David McGoldrick sent a shot well wide, before Williams created an opportunity for Sammon. The Welshman fed the on-loan Derby striker on the right of the area but he scuffed the ball past the post and too far ahead of McGoldrick.
On 21 Craig Noone, who had been the home side’s brightest spark early on, had the ball in the net but after Macheda had strayed offside.
Williams shot wide from distance for Town, then at the other end Le Fondre smashed the ball well over from a Pilkington cross.
The game had been an even affair with Town having most of the ball, although with Cardiff perhaps having had the better of the chances, but on 29 the Blues went in front.
Bluebirds left-back Fabio made a mess of dealing with Chambers’s long ball forward and it fell to Murphy who took it on a few strides before slamming a superb strike into the right-hand corner of the net, giving keeper David Marshall no chance.
The Blues continued to press having gone in front via Murphy’s seventh of the season, Jonny Parr believing he should have been awarded a penalty when clipped as he looked to get onto a bouncing ball in from the left.
On 33 Williams was fouled by Bruno Ecuele Manga on the edge of the box but McGoldrick curled the freekick well over.
Four minutes later, the home side were on terms. Kevin Bru headed on Murphy’s clearance from a corner on the left. Whittingham out-muscled Williams, turned and then smashed a 25-yard strike beyond Gerken and into the net. It was a goal every bit as good as Murphy’s at the other end.
As the break approached, McGoldrick nodded a Mings cross from the left back into the box but Whittingham cleared.
The 1-1 scoreline was a fair reflection of the first half, both sides having had spells in charge but without creating too many chances.
Cardiff had probably had the better of the opportnities prior to Murphy’s excellent goal, while the Blues had had more of the ball, passing it around confidently and with the trickery of Williams and McGoldrick causing the Cardiff backline a few headaches, although largely outside the box.
Whittingham’s strike gave keeper Gerken no chance, although the Blues will be disappointed not to have got the ball away by that stage. The goal was the ninth Town have conceded either directly or indirectly from corners in all competitions this season out of a total of 13.
Within two minutes of the restart, Cardiff went in front. Mings failed to deal with a Pilkington cross from the Bluebirds left at the far post while stretching, then Parr did exactly the same when it was sent back over from the right. Pilkington returned a low cross into the area and Macheda diverted into the net from close range.
In the 48th minute there was a minute’s applause amongst the crowd to mark the 48th anniversary of the Aberfan disaster.
The momentum was very much with the home side having gone in front with the Blues under pressure.
Full-back Fabio made a superb run down the left in the 55th minute, Gerken eventually blocking his stab at goal. The danger wasn’t gone and the Town keeper was forced into another save, pushing Noone’s 25-yard strike away to his right.
A minute later Mings was booked for a foul on Noone, the left-back’s fifth yellow card of the season meaning the 21-year-old will miss Saturday’s game against Huddersfield.
Just before the hour, Bru found Parr with a clever diagonal pass into his path on the right but Sean Morrison got ahead of the diving Williams to head the Norwegian’s cross behind, although referee David Coote and his linesman somehow saw it as a goalkick. Soon after, Fabio was booked for a late tackle on Williams.
The Blues went close to getting back on terms in the 66th minute when Williams chipped a right-wing cross to the far post having exchanged passes with Sammon and Murphy’s looping header dropped only just wide. Soon after, Balint Bajner replaced Sammon in the Town attack.
Three minutes after the Blues had almost levelled, the home side increased their lead. Morrison headed back Noone’s cross from the right and Le Fondre’s deflected effort beat the wrong-footed Gerken.
Teddy Bishop replaced Williams for the final 15 minutes as the Blues went chasing what appeared to be an unlikely comeback, the Bluebirds having dominated the second half.
On 79 Skuse shot well over from 20 yards, Bishop having played it to him after Bru had charged down a clearance, but opportunities to reduce the deficit were rare. With three minutes of scheduled time remaining Anderson took over from Bru.
Deep in injury time, McGoldrick headed Anderson’s cross from the right wide and Bishop shot well over but moments later referee Coote’s whistle confirmed Town’s first defeat since August 23rd, their first ever loss at Cardiff's new ground and their first to the Bluebirds by more than one goal.
While the first half had been evenly contested, the Blues were second best after the break having conceded the early goal.
Town, who drop to ninth, had one chance to get back in it when Murphy’s header looped just wide, but once the Bluebirds had scored their third the result was never in doubt.
Cardiff: Marshall (c), Brayford, Fabio, Morrison, Ecuele Manga, Whittingham, Gunnarsson, Noone, Pilkington, Macheda (Ralls 84), Le Fondre (Maynard 78). Unused: Moore, Gabbidon, Connolly, Kim, Daehli, Maynard.
Town: Gerken, Parr, Mings, Chambers (c), Berra, Skuse, Bru (Anderson 87), Williams (Bishop 75), McGoldrick, Murphy, Sammon (Bajner 67). Unused: Bialkowski, Clarke, Smith, Tabb, Anderson, Bishop, Bajner. Referee: David Coote (Nottinghamshire). Att: 20,191.