Birmingham City claimed a first home win in two months thanks to a first-half penalty from Paul Caddis.
He kept his cool to send Cardiff keeper David Marshall the wrong way following a controversial handball decision against Matthew Connolly.
Marshall then denied Blues a second with the save of the match to deny Jon Toral, diving to his left.
Cardiff missed several chances in front of a crowd of just 14,415, Birmingham's lowest of the season.
Blues keeper Tomasz Kuszczak denied Scott Malone in the 89th minute - and other openings were wasted in a sustained spell of Cardiff dominance.
From Malone's cross, Anthony Pilkington shot wide at the near post, Sammy Ameobi splayed a shot across the face of the goal when clear while home defender Jonathan Spector almost scored in his own net.
Injury woes |
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| Cardiff were forced into an early change following James Vaughan's block tackle on Sean Morrison, who was replaced by Bruno Ecule Manga. |
| Blues also lost man before the break when injury-jinxed Neil Eardley was forced off after 26 minutes in only his fourth game back in the team - but it brought into the action Paul Caddis, who was to prove the match winner. |
It was a quiet opening 45 minutes but the game burst to life in first-half injury time.
Cardiff keeper Marshall looked like he might have been impeded but, when the ball spilled loose, on-loan Blues striker James Vaughan's shot was blocked by Connolly and referee David Coote gave a penalty.
However, replays suggested the ball had hit Connolly in the face rather than the arm.
Cardiff boss Russell Slade was so incensed by the decision that he had to be restrained at the half-time whistle.
Other than that, Kenwyne Jones might have done better with a header from a deflected cross, which Kuszczak saved comfortably to his left, while Pilkington had a left-foot shot deflected over.
Cardiff also had more decent chances after the break - but it was Gary Rowett's Blues who held out for a second clean sheet in three games to leapfrog the visitors into seventh in the Championship table.
Birmingham City manager Gary Rowett told BSports:
Rowett on Birmingham v Cardiff
"It looked like it might have hit him on the hand but, when you see the TV replay, it clearly hit him in the face. You have to be 100% sure with decisions like that.
"To get that first goal, however fortunate it might be, was so important as it's been a while since we took the lead in any game.
"We've had three games in six days and the lads were out on their feet second half. We've worked very hard to only get two points from the last two away games so, for us to play not as well we can and get the fortune is a great effort. I'll take the poor performance and three points."
Cardiff City manager Russell Slade told BSports:
"We're all very hurt. It's so disappointing when a huge error gives Birmingham the opportunity to score their goal.
"Overall, I was very pleased with the way we played. For large periods, we bossed it but we couldn't find the finish. We just could not find the final ball.
"I would have liked to talk to the referee, but we have a cooling-off period after the game when we're not allowed to talk to him, and that's probably in his best interests."
Lineup, Bookings (4) & Substitutions (6)
Birmingham City
- 29 Kuszczak
- 02 Eardley (Caddis - 25' )
- 28 Morrison
- 23 Spector Booked
- 25 Lowry Booked (Halford - 79' )
- 08 Gleeson
- 06 Kieftenbeld Booked
- 19 Maghoma
- 20 Toral (Davis - 69' )
- 07 Gray
- 15 Vaughan
Substitutes
- 01 Legzdins
- 17 Solomon-Otabor
- 22 Shinnie
- 26 Davis
- 31 Caddis
- 44 Brock-Madsen
- 45 Halford
Cardiff City
- 01 Marshall
- 02 Peltier
- 04 Morrison (Ecuele Manga - 9' )
- 16 Connolly
- 28 Malone
- 38 Ameobi
- 17 Gunnarsson (Whittingham - 80' )
- 08 Ralls
- 13 Pilkington (Noone - 79' )
- 09 Jones
- 33 Watt Booked
Substitutes
- 03 Fabio
- 05 Ecuele Manga
- 07 Whittingham
- 10 Mason
- 11 Noone
- 21 Moore
- 22 O'Keefe
Match Stats
Live Text Commentary
Full Time Match ends, Birmingham City 1, Cardiff City 0.
90:00 +4:08 Full timeFull Time Second Half ends, Birmingham City 1, Cardiff City 0.
90:00 +3:29Attempt missed. Scott Malone (Cardiff City) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left following a set piece situation.
90:00 +3:00Tony Watt (Cardiff City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
90:00 +3:00Foul by Stephen Gleeson (Birmingham City).
90:00 +2:34Bruno Ecuele Manga (Cardiff City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90:00 +2:34Foul by David Davis (Birmingham City).
90:00 +0:28Foul by Matthew Connolly (Cardiff City).
90:00 +0:28James Vaughan (Birmingham City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
89:17Foul by Bruno Ecuele Manga (Cardiff City).
89:17James Vaughan (Birmingham City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
88:29Corner, Cardiff City. Conceded by Tomasz Kuszczak.
88:27Attempt saved. Scott Malone (Cardiff City) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Sammy Ameobi.
86:41Foul by Joe Ralls (Cardiff City).
86:41Maikel Kieftenbeld (Birmingham City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
85:44 BookingBooking Tony Watt (Cardiff City) is shown the yellow card.
85:19Foul by Tony Watt (Cardiff City).
85:19Stephen Gleeson (Birmingham City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
84:41Attempt saved. Demarai Gray (Birmingham City) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
83:29Attempt missed. David Davis (Birmingham City) left footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right.
Attempt blocked. Demarai Gray (Birmingham City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Maikel Kieftenbeld.
81:50Tony Watt (Cardiff City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
81:50Foul by Michael Morrison (Birmingham City).
81:31Attempt missed. Jacques Maghoma (Birmingham City) right footed shot from the right side of the box is too high. Assisted by Paul Caddis.
80:03Attempt missed. Demarai Gray (Birmingham City) left footed shot from the left side of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Greg Halford with a headed pass following a corner.
79:35Corner, Birmingham City. Conceded by Scott Malone.
79:04 SubstitutionSubstitution Substitution, Cardiff City. Peter Whittingham replaces Aron Gunnarsson.
78:52 SubstitutionSubstitution Substitution, Cardiff City. Craig Noone replaces Anthony Pilkington.
78:18 SubstitutionSubstitution Substitution, Birmingham City. Greg Halford replaces Shane Lowry.
77:05Attempt blocked. Jacques Maghoma (Birmingham City) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
74:57Attempt missed. Tony Watt (Cardiff City) right footed shot from the right side of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Kenwyne Jones with a headed pass following a corner.
74:10Corner, Cardiff City. Conceded by Demarai Gray.
72:01Corner, Cardiff City. Conceded by Jonathan Spector.
71:37 BookingBooking Maikel Kieftenbeld (Birmingham City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
71:31Bruno Ecuele Manga (Cardiff City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
71:31Foul by Maikel Kieftenbeld (Birmingham City).
69:14Attempt missed. Sammy Ameobi (Cardiff City) left footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Tony Watt.
68:33 SubstitutionSubstitution Substitution, Birmingham City. David Davis replaces Jon-Miquel Toral.
66:14 BookingBooking Jonathan Spector (Birmingham City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
65:51Tony Watt (Cardiff City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
65:51Foul by Jonathan Spector (Birmingham City).
65:15Matthew Connolly (Cardiff City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
65:15Foul by James Vaughan (Birmingham City).
64:43Attempt missed. Anthony Pilkington (Cardiff City) right footed shot from the left side of the six yard box misses to the right. Assisted by Scott Malone with a cross.
60:37Offside, Birmingham City. Shane Lowry tries a through ball, but Jon-Miquel Toral is caught offside.
60:22Foul by Bruno Ecuele Manga (Cardiff City).
60:22James Vaughan (Birmingham City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
54:54Offside, Birmingham City. Demarai Gray tries a through ball, but James Vaughan is caught offside.
52:04Sammy Ameobi (Cardiff City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
52:04Foul by Shane Lowry (Birmingham City).
49:19Attempt missed. Shane Lowry (Birmingham City) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Stephen Gleeson with a cross following a corner.
48:54Corner, Birmingham City. Conceded by Lee Peltier.
48:27Corner, Birmingham City. Conceded by David Marshall.
48:24Attempt saved. Jon-Miquel Toral (Birmingham City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Jacques Maghoma.
47:36Offside, Birmingham City. Paul Caddis tries a through ball, but James Vaughan is caught offside.
45:00Second Half begins Birmingham City 1, Cardiff City 0.
45:00 +4:02 Half timeHalf Time First Half ends, Birmingham City 1, Cardiff City 0.
45:00 +3:34Dangerous play by Sammy Ameobi (Cardiff City).
45:00 +3:34Shane Lowry (Birmingham City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
45:00 +2:53Matthew Connolly (Cardiff City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
45:00 +2:53Foul by James Vaughan (Birmingham City).
45:00 +1:54Foul by Joe Ralls (Cardiff City).
45:00 +1:54Jon-Miquel Toral (Birmingham City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
45:00 +0:50 Goal scoredGoal! Goal! Birmingham City 1, Cardiff City 0. Paul Caddis (Birmingham City) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.
43:53Penalty conceded by Matthew Connolly (Cardiff City) with a hand ball in the penalty area.
43:43Attempt blocked. James Vaughan (Birmingham City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Michael Morrison.
43:07Foul by Joe Ralls (Cardiff City).
43:07Stephen Gleeson (Birmingham City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
42:09Foul by Bruno Ecuele Manga (Cardiff City).
42:09James Vaughan (Birmingham City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
39:10Attempt saved. Sammy Ameobi (Cardiff City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Kenwyne Jones.
38:25Foul by Scott Malone (Cardiff City).
38:25Demarai Gray (Birmingham City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
37:34Attempt missed. Jon-Miquel Toral (Birmingham City) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Demarai Gray with a cross.
35:13 BookingBooking Shane Lowry (Birmingham City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
35:07Sammy Ameobi (Cardiff City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
35:07Foul by Shane Lowry (Birmingham City).
34:10Attempt missed. Maikel Kieftenbeld (Birmingham City) right footed shot from outside the box is too high following a corner.
33:35Corner, Birmingham City. Conceded by Joe Ralls.
32:14Corner, Birmingham City. Conceded by Sammy Ameobi.
30:38Attempt blocked. Kenwyne Jones (Cardiff City) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Joe Ralls with a cross.
30:03Corner, Cardiff City. Conceded by Paul Caddis.
30:01Attempt blocked. Anthony Pilkington (Cardiff City) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Tony Watt.
28:24Matthew Connolly (Cardiff City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
28:24Foul by Maikel Kieftenbeld (Birmingham City).
25:31Offside, Cardiff City. Joe Ralls tries a through ball, but Anthony Pilkington is caught offside.
24:39 SubstitutionSubstitution Substitution, Birmingham City. Paul Caddis replaces Neal Eardley because of an injury.
24:30Delay over. They are ready to continue.
23:47Delay in match Neal Eardley (Birmingham City) because of an injury.
20:17Attempt saved. Kenwyne Jones (Cardiff City) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Sammy Ameobi with a cross.
17:12Foul by Bruno Ecuele Manga (Cardiff City).
17:12James Vaughan (Birmingham City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
15:35Jon-Miquel Toral (Birmingham City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
15:35Foul by Joe Ralls (Cardiff City).
14:03Corner, Birmingham City. Conceded by Bruno Ecuele Manga.
12:14Attempt blocked. James Vaughan (Birmingham City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Demarai Gray.
11:43Foul by Matthew Connolly (Cardiff City).
11:43James Vaughan (Birmingham City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
10:00Attempt missed. Bruno Ecuele Manga (Cardiff City) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Anthony Pilkington with a cross following a set piece situation.
9:21Foul by Demarai Gray (Birmingham City).
9:21Sammy Ameobi (Cardiff City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
8:30 SubstitutionSubstitution Substitution, Cardiff City. Bruno Ecuele Manga replaces Sean Morrison because of an injury.
7:59Delay over. They are ready to continue.
7:39Delay in match Sean Morrison (Cardiff City) because of an injury.
6:10Delay over. They are ready to continue.
5:23Delay in match Sean Morrison (Cardiff City) because of an injury.
3:44Foul by Demarai Gray (Birmingham City).
3:44Sammy Ameobi (Cardiff City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
3:12Corner, Birmingham City. Conceded by Lee Peltier.
2:16Attempt missed. Demarai Gray (Birmingham City) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Jon-Miquel Toral.
0:00First Half begins.
0:00Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
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