McPhail opened the scoring with a stunning 25-yard strike

Cardiff kept alive their play-off hopes and kept Blackpool in the danger area.

Stephen McPhail opened the scoring with a stunning 25-yard strike from Aaron Ramsey's lay-off, Stephen McPhee and Ian Evatt wasting chances to equalise.

Tony Capaldi set up Ramsey, but when he miscued Trevor Sinclair struck the second confidently from 10 yards.

Peter Whittingham controlled Ramsey's pass well to get the third from 18 yards before Andy Morrell's consolation header off Paul Dickov's cross.

FA Cup finalists Cardiff are now unbeaten in 10 league and cup games, while the Tangerines have no wins in their last eight Championship matches.

"It was a disappointing performance with no energy or life in it and that is surprising for this team.

"We did a little better after scoring the goal but it was too little and too late."

"We took our foot off the gas after the third goal and probably had to work far harder than necessary in the closing minutes.

"I am asking the lads to keep going and that is very hard as we haven't the numbers in the squad.

"They are running at full pelt and I have told them that is how they will steer clear of injuries.

"We haven't given up on the play-offs but it is difficult for us with the FA Cup final coming up, but we will all keep on working hard."

Cardiff: Enckelman, McNaughton, Capaldi, Purse, Johnson, Rae, Whittingham, McPhail, Sinclair (Brown 68), Ramsey, Thompson.
Subs Not Used: Oakes, Loovens, Scimeca, Blake.

Goals: McPhail 7, Sinclair 50, Whittingham 58.

Blackpool: Rachubka, Crainey, Evatt, Gorkss, Barker, Southern, McPhee (Morrell 64), Hoolahan, Taylor-Fletcher, Flynn (Fox 46), Burgess (Dickov 46).
Subs Not Used: Flinders, Coid.

Goals: Morrell 73.

Att: 14,715

Ref: Tony Bates (Staffordshire).