Neil Warnock’s Bluebirds swept into second place in the Championship thanks to 3-1 home win against Ipswich Town.
Cardiff City proved too strong for Mick McCarthy’s Ipswich in South Wales and are now focused on this Saturday’s Severnside derby at Bristol City.
Goals from Junior Hoilett, impressive centre-forward Omar Bogle, making his full debut, and substitute Danny Ward led Warnock’s warriors to victory.
“I’m buzzing,” said Bogle. “I’ve been training hard to get fit and be ready for my chance. It’s good to come in and score along with the win.
“I spoke to a lot of players who have played under the gaffer and everyone has good words to say about him. Nathaniel (Mendez-Laing) was here before I came and he’s one of my good friends so speaking to him there were loads of good words.”
Manager Warnock talked about Bogle and playmaker Lee Tomlin, saying: “They have both been busting a gut to play.
“We’ve worked in training on Omar coming in. He was a threat all night and took his goal really well. I can’t speak highly enough of his training.
“It was good to see the crowd acclaiming him when he came off. He did everything I wanted him to do. I asked him not to do too much to impress, because he doesn’t need to impress me.”
Cardiff had fought out back-to-back goalless draws at home, while they went into the clash with Ipswich having failed to score from open play in six and a half hours play.
That was put right after 12 minutes when Hoilett scored after good work by Sol Bamba and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing.
Bogle was a big physical presence for City and he brought a brilliant save from goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski just before half-time.
Former Grimsby Town striker Bogle scored 35 seconds into the second half, tucking Tomlin’s delightful pass into the bottom right-hand corner.
At 2-0 Cardiff were in control, but Ipswich pulled a goal back when Bersant Celina scored and set nerves fluttering around the stadium.
They were eased when Ward, on for Bogle, finished sweetly following a home counter-attack.
Warnock tweaked Cardiff’s playing system with Tomlin and Bogle called up, while Ward and Craig Bryson were among the substitutes.
Bamba and Joe Ralls patrolled in front of the back four, while Mendez-Laing, Tomlin and Hoilett worked to support Bogle.
The fluency and character of Cardiff’s performance earned a solid home victory and they are second, just behind leaders Wolves, going into their clash with fourth-placed Bristol City at Ashton Gate.
Cardiff City 4-2-3-1: Etheridge, Paterson, Morrison, Manga, Peltier, Tomlin (Damour 66), Bamba, Ralls, Mendez-Laing, Bogle (Ward 82), Hoilett (Feeney 75). Subs not used: Halford, Bryson, Gounongbe, Murphy.
Ipswich Town 4-4-2: Bialkowski, Iorfa, Chambers, Smith, Knudsen, Skuse, Ward, Bru (Sears 73), Downes (Connolly 64), Celina, Garner (Waghorn 78). Subs not used: Gerken, Webster, McGoldrick, Spence.
Referee: Oliver Langford
Attendance: 15,951.
