Source: PA
Ruthless Bluebirds hammer Leeds
Jay Bothroyd fired a double as Cardiff served warning this could finally be their year for promotion by routing npower Championship rivals Leeds 4-0 in their own backyard.
The Welshmen, beaten play-off finalists last season and so often in the thick of the promotion race in recent years, moved level on points with leaders QPR by securing a fourth consecutive league win thanks to Bothroyd's 10th and 11th goals of the season and further strikes from Michael Chopra and Lee Naylor.
Bothroyd was fortunate not to receive a straight red card for his studs-up challenge on Luciano Becchio in the first half, but he now has four goals in as many games as Cardiff registered a fifth-straight win over Leeds, who have lost their last three league games at Elland Road.
Cardiff took the lead when goalkeeper Tom Heaton's long punt sailed deep into Leeds territory and when Alex Bruce opted to let the ball bounce on to the edge of the area, the on-rushing Kasper Schmeichel failed to gather and Bothroyd pounced to roll the ball into an unguarded net.
And Leeds found themselves with a mountain to climb when Cardiff added a controversial second goal in the 52nd minute. Davide Somma was robbed 10 yards inside Cardiff's half and when Mark Hudson clipped a long ball into Chopra's path, the striker appeared offside before racing on to bury a shot beyond Schmeichel and inside the far post.
Cardiff put the game beyond Leeds in the 56th minute when Bothroyd combined with Craig Bellamy and Chris Burke before taking a return pass from the latter in the area and planting a firm finish into the centre of the net. And Naylor fired in a speculative shot from 25 yards that crashed inside the home goalkeeper's right-hand post to complete the rout.
