Cardiff crush Leeds with four-goal salvo

Jay Bothroyd was destroyer in chief with two goals as Dave Jones' side delivered their fourth win on the trot in championship and now sit level with Queens Park Rangers.

Cardiff served warning this could finally be their year for promotion with this impressive away win.

Former Falkirk goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel made his long-awaited return for Leeds following a foot injury, Alex Bruce headed the game's first effort on goal over the crossbar from Scot Robert Snodgrass's 12th-minute corner and his skipper Jonny Howson thundered a right-footed shot from outside the penalty area wide.

Cardiff responded in the 20th minute when Seyi Olofinjana's daisy-cutter was easily gathered by Schmeichel, but the Leeds goalkeeper was not so assured two minutes later.

The visitors drew first blood when Boothroyd made the most of a mix-up between Schmeichel and Bruce to give Cardiff the lead. Cardiff goalkeeper Tim Heaton's long punt sailed deep into Leeds territory and when Bruce opted to let the ball bounce on to the edge of the area, the on-rushing Schmeichel failed to gather and Bothroyd pounced to roll the ball into an unguarded net.

Six minutes into the second half the Bluebirds went further ahead when Michael Chopra beat the offside trap to score from the edge of the box before Cardiff put the game beyond Leeds in the 56th minute. Bothroyd combined with Bellamy and Burke before taking a return pass from the latter in the area to score.

The Welshmen made it four on the hour mark when Schmeichel was left motionless as Naylor fired in a speculative shot from 25 yards that crashed inside the home goalkeeper's right-hand post. Leeds debutant Ramon Nunez thumped a 30-yard shot just over the crossbar and Becchio had a headed goal ruled out for offside, but otherwise Simon Grayson's side had little to offer. It was a satisfying night for Cardiff, beaten play-off finalists last season and so often in the thick of the promotion race in recent years. For Leeds, however, it leaves a less palatable conclusion, as they have now lost their last three league games at Elland Road.