A Paul Parry stunner gave Cardiff City their first home league victory in nine attempts.Joe Ledley opened the scoring with a close-range header, but when Ade Akinbiyi equalised early in the second half, it looked like more home points dropped until Parry stepped up.
City were forced to make a very late change with Steve McPhail ruled out through illness.Peter Whittingham came into midfield while Darren Purse and fit again Steve Thompson were on the bench.
Former Bluebird Alan Mahon was prominent for the Clarets in the opening stages, but it was Robbie Blake who first threatened the home goal in the 14th minute when he cut inside only to fire high over the bar.
Purse replaced the injured Glenn Loovens midway through the half after the Dutchman suffered a pulled muscle.
City almost opened the scoring when a cross from Kevin McNaughton went straight across the Burnley area but Whittingham failed to get a touch at the far post.
The breakthrough came in the 36th minute when Purse crossed and Ledley leaped high to beat Gabor Kiraly with a firm header.
Three minute later he almost doubled the lead but this time Kiraly tipped his rising shot over the bar.
The Clarets brought on all three substitutes at the start of the second half and it worked when one of them, Akinbiyi, headed in to the far corner in the 50th minute for the equaliser.
Just as the visitors seemed to be taking a stranglehold on the game, Parry received the ball out wide, cut inside and unleashed a shot into the net beyond the diving keeper.
He almost claimed his second with another venomous drive but once again Kiraly managed to tip over the bar.
Burnley pressed hard in the closing stages but City held on for their first home victory in almost seven months.