Callum Robinson's late goal saw Cardiff City stretch their lead at the top of League One thanks to a deserved victory at promotion rivals Stevenage.

Substitute Robinson broke Stevenage's resistance five minutes from time, as he controlled before guiding a half-volley inside the far post from 20 yards to secure Cardiff's fourth successive league win.

Brian Barry-Murphy's team move four points clear of second-placed Bradford City, with Stevenage now three points adrift of the Bantams in sixth.

Alex Revell's team have a game in hand on both clubs currently occupying the automatic promotion places in the third tier, but are left licking wounds having lost a home league fixture for the first time this season.

Stevenage could have few complaints, with Cardiff always looking the more likely winners in a game of few clear-cut opportunities.

Yousef Salech missed Cardiff's best chance of the first half, the in-form striker rising to meet Joel Bagan's cross but heading wide of the far post.

Perry Ng also had a sight of goal when he galloped on to a long ball over the top but dragged a shot across the face, while Joel Colwill fired wide from just outside the area.

The pattern of the contest was similar after the break, with Cardiff more progressive in possession but Stevenage able soak up most of the Welsh side's attacks.

Colwill almost broke the deadlock when he met Bagan's low centre with a side-footed effort which bounced to safety off the bar.

But just as Stevenage – who offered little going forward – began to think a point had been earned, Cardiff found a path to goal.

Omari Kellyman's deflected pass looped to Robinson, who supplied the moment of quality Barry-Murphy had been craving all night.

Cardiff are the leading scorers in the division, while Stevenage have the best defensive record in the English Football League (EFL).

When this game eventually got under way - 15 minutes later than planned as a result of bad weather affecting the journeys of travelling fans – it quickly became apparent that nothing would come easy for Cardiff against Revell's disciplined team.

Stevenage had registered three straight league clean sheets before this, and for a long time it seemed their blend of organisation and desire would deliver another shutout.

Ultimately, however, Cardiff conjured the goal they deserved given their greater menace.

Revell had suggested before the game that Cardiff were "probably everyone's favourites" to win promotion this season.

Results like this will only add to the feeling that Barry-Murphy's men are destined for an immediate return to the Championship.

Stevenage manager Alex Revell:

"We are so disappointed that we've lost the game because one thing I'll say is, these are a good side.

"The quality they bring on to win a game… you can see the quality throughout the squad.

"We worked so hard - the effort the players put in to work as a group, to protect, I can never fault. Absolutely we need to do more going forward, there's no doubt about it.

"But first and foremost we work as a team and with the players who were out there, I can't fault their effort at all."

Cardiff head coach Brian Barry-Murphy:

"A very pleasing victory for us. So many of our supporters had so many difficulties getting to the game, we were very aware of that, so to give them the victory they wanted so late in the game was a fitting end for us.

"I think with the players we had coming on to the pitch [from the bench] we had a really good fresh impetus. I always felt if we could get a chance or two and it might happen to fall to Callum or Yousef… that's the way it was in the end.

"It's a very rewarding victory because we know how good Stevenage are and how effective they are in this home stadium.

"The clean sheet is huge. To keep a team who are so dangerous in the opponents' box to so few opportunities was really big for the players."