Football: Bluebirds on song to stuff Cats

CARDIFF smashed the hoodoo of never having beaten a side in the top half of the division - in swashbuckling style.

Elated City boss Lennie Lawrence hailed this 4-0 win as "our most complete performance of the season".

He added: "We still need to put a run together if we are to make a challenge for a play-off spot, but at least I think we showed that, on form like this, we can give it a real go."

For once striker Robert Earnshaw did not have his name on the score sheet. Not that it mattered. He contributed as much as anyone to a super show.

It took just 18 minutes for Cardiff to roar ahead, as Richard Langley burst down Cardiff's right before being pulled down by Joachim Bjorklund.

Referee Peter Crossley decided that the Swede was the last line of defence - and brandished a red card.

Cardiff captain Graham Kavanagh fired his shot low past the defensive wall and in off a post.

Nine minutes later Langley was the architect - and finisher as well, sending Peter Thorne surging forward and moving the ball wide to Rhys Weston who pulled back a low cross for the on-rushing Langley to stroke home.

Cardiff needed just one minute of the second-half to put the result beyond doubt.

Kavanagh's corner found its way past a packed penalty area and Earnshaw chipped it back for Danny Gabbidon to power his volley home.

Sub Alan Lee rounded off Cardiff's afternoon with the final goal, shaking off defender George McCartney to rifle home the fourth.

MAN OF THE MATCH

RICHARD LANGLEY

Added sparkle and a goal for City.

CARDIFF: Margetson 8, Weston 8, Vidmar 7, Barker 7, Gabbidon 7, Kavanagh 8 (Lee 7), Boland 7, Earnshaw 7 (Campbell 7), Thorne 7, LANGLEY 8, Parry 7 (Robinson 7).

SUNDERLAND: Poom 7, Wright 6, McCartney 6, McAteer 6 (Thirlwell 7), Breen 6, Whitley 7, Kyle 6 (Smith 6), Stewart 6 (Byfield 6), Oster 7, Bjorklund 3, Arca 6.

MANAGER RATINGS: Lawrence 8, McCarthy 7.

REFEREE: P Crossley 7.

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