Kenwyne Jones returns from injury and ends Cardiff's nightmare in front of goal
Kenwyne Jones returned from injury to end Cardiff's goal-drought in a 2-0 victory over Reading.
It had been nine hours and 39 minutes since a Cardiff player had scored when Jones finally found the net with a powerful header.
Reading struggled to get to grips with the home side's well organised set-piece approach, and Matthew Connelly made it 2-0 after 52 minutes when he headed a corner home.
Reading's fifth match without a win has sent them below Cardiff and into eighth, but they still only remain four points off the play-off places.
Craig Noone was the one player to shine in a turgid opening quarter and could have put Cardiff ahead after 10 minutes when he cut inside past Andrew Taylor - but his shot only found the hands of Ali Al-Habsi.
Former Bluebirds favourite Taylor was then on hand to stop his old side taking the lead when he cut-out a through ball from Anthony Pilkington that would have put Noone clear through on goal.
It was the tricky winger who had the chance to become the first Cardiff player to score for five games after 30 minutes.
But Reading keeper Al-Habsi was at the ready to block a low curling shot.
And Russell Slade's side were almost made to pay when Nick Blackman forced David Marshall into action from a driven shot after Aaron Gunnarsson had given the ball away to Matej Vydra in midfield.
But the wait for Cardiff fans was finally over when fit-again Jones powered a header home from a Joe Ralls free-kick after 44 minutes.
And defender Connolly made sure it got even better for the hosts seven minutes after the break.
Al-Habsi had flapped at a Ralls free-kick and deflected the ball out for a corner.
The midfield man stepped up to take it and delivered a dangerous cross for Connelly to rise above Anton Ferdinand and head home.
Gunnarson could have wrapped up a comfortable victory when he drove into the Reading penalty area, but he dragged his shot across goal.
Idriss Saadi replaced goal-scorer Jones and almost made an instant impact when he latched onto Noone's hooked ball forward, but his driven shot was tipped around the post.
Reading found Marshall in inspired form as they looked to stage a late comeback.
First he showed his acrobatic skills to deflect Oliver Norwood's free-kick away from the top corner. He then received a standing ovation after he got down quickly to deny Michael Hector from close-range.
Source: PA
