Cardiff moved back to second in the Championship with their first win since 13 November, 2-0 against Coventry.
A quick free-kick sent Craig Bellamy down the left and his pass found Seyi Olofinjana who barely broke stride to side-foot the first from 18 yards.
Lukas Jutkiewicz had a goal ruled out for offside as Coventry tried to recover from a first-half battering.
But Bellamy took advantage of hesitancy in Coventry's defence to smash in a 25-yard deflected strike to earn the win.
As the sell-out home crowd celebrated their club's first Boxing Day win in 11 years, the Sky Blues were comforted by the fact that they stay in the final play-off position.
Bellamy reflects on Coventry win
Cardiff striker Jay Bothroyd - like Bellamy a former Coventry player - failed to recover from a hamstring injury in time for the match, but a simmering rivalry between the two sides was still evident.
Bluebirds manager Dave Jones handed a debut to centre-back Chris Riggott along with starts for Michael Chopra and Stephen McPhail.
Opposite number Aidy Boothroyd also made three changes from last time out, captain Lee Carsley returning from suspension in the middle of the park along with Jordan Clarke on the right and Jutkiewicz in attack.
The hosts started brightly and Chopra drilled narrowly wide before Keiren Westwood produced a great reflex save to keep out Riggott's left-footed flick from Peter Whittingham's set-piece.
It came as no surprise when Olofinjana converted Bellamy's low cross after the home captain burst past Richard Keogh from Andy Keogh's free kick.
Westwood twice denied Chopra with superb saves in the space of 10 minutes as Cardiff's free-flowing attacking play continued to cause all sorts of problems.
Coventry emerged with more urgency after the restart, but it was not long before Westwood was called upon again to produce a reaction stop from Bellamy.
Bellamy terrorised Coventry down the left and proved a goal-scoring threat
Boothroyd turned to substitutes Clive Platt and Freddy Eastwood in an attempt to inject some attacking impetus and the visitors were certainly making more of a game of things.
However, another top-drawer save from Westwood left Chopra wondering what he had to do to beat the Republic of Ireland goalkeeper.
Eastwood fired into the side-netting for Cardiff, but the Blues soon had the second goal their pressure deserved.
Richard Keogh fouled Bellamy on half-way and there was hesitation throughout the Sky Blues side but Cardiff played the advantage.
Bellamy got himself back into the action and let loose his shot, a wicked deflection off James McPake giving the unfortunate Westwood no chance.
The heroic keeper was again on hand to deny Bellamy a second soon afterwards, but it was not enough to stop Cardiff from registering just their second win in eight matches.
Live text and stats
Sunday, 26 December 2010
Npower Championship
Home Team
Score
Away Team
Time
Cardiff
2-0
Coventry
FT
(HT 1-0)
Olofinjana 21
Bellamy 83
Cardiff
01 Marshall
02 McNaughton
03 Naylor
05 Hudson
31 Riggott (Gyepes 68)
07 Whittingham
10 McPhail
20 Olofinjana
08 Chopra
17 Keogh
39 Bellamy yellow card
Substitutes
22 Heaton,
06 Gyepes,
04 Rae,
19 Koumas,
23 Blake,
27 Matthews,
28 Wildig
Coventry
01 Westwood
02 Keogh yellow card
06 McPake
24 Wood
26 Clarke (Platt 59)
30 Cameron
05 Carsley
08 Doyle yellow card
09 King
11 Jutkiewicz
19 McSheffrey (Eastwood 59)
Substitutes
23 Ireland,
15 Cranie,
07 Bell,
18 Baker,
40 Thomas,
10 Eastwood,
22 Platt
Ref: SalisburyAtt: 24,595
CARDIFF
COVENTRY
Possession
Cardiff57%
Coventry43%
Attempts on target
Cardiff11
Coventry2
Attempts off target
Cardiff10
Coventry6
Corners
Cardiff8
Coventry4
Fouls
Cardiff13
Coventry10
Final Result
Full Time
90:00+3:47 The referee brings the game to a close.
90:00+3:22 The assistant referee signals for offside against Andrew Keogh. Keiren Westwood takes the indirect free kick.
89:30 Clive Platt concedes a free kick for a foul on Seyi Olofinjana. Direct free kick taken by David Marshall.
89:11 Craig Bellamy produces a cross.
88:10 Clive Platt is ruled offside. David Marshall restarts play with the free kick.
87:37 Craig Bellamy crosses the ball, clearance made by James McPake.
85:40 Foul by Marlon King on Lee Naylor, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Stephen McPhail.
85:25 The ball is swung over by Craig Bellamy.
84:56 Craig Bellamy takes a shot. Save by Keiren Westwood.
83:13 Booking Richard Keogh booked for unsporting behaviour.
82:27 GOAL - Craig Bellamy:Cardiff 2 - 0 Coventry Craig Bellamy gets on the score sheet with a goal from just outside the penalty box low into the middle of the goal. Cardiff 2-0 Coventry.
80:53 Marlon King sends in a cross, clearance made by Gabor Gyepes.
79:44 The ball is swung over by Lee Naylor, save made by Keiren Westwood.
79:02 Andrew Keogh is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Keiren Westwood restarts play with the free kick.
77:56 Stephen McPhail fouled by Freddy Eastwood, the ref awards a free kick. David Marshall restarts play with the free kick.
77:29 Shot by Andrew Keogh. Save by Keiren Westwood. Lukas Jutkiewicz crosses the ball, clearance made by Stephen McPhail.
76:58 Craig Bellamy delivers the ball, Richard Wood makes a clearance.
75:45 Shot on goal by Peter Whittingham from just inside the area goes over the target.
75:11 The ball is sent over by Marlon King, Mark Hudson manages to make a clearance.
73:32 Freddy Eastwood produces a cross, Effort on goal by Marlon King from inside the area goes harmlessly over the bar.
72:41 Craig Bellamy produces a cross, Effort on goal by Stephen McPhail from just inside the penalty box goes harmlessly over the target.
72:07 The ball is delivered by Marlon King, David Marshall makes a comfortable save.
70:55 Andrew Keogh gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on James McPake. Free kick taken by Keiren Westwood.
69:36 Centre by Craig Bellamy, Michael Chopra takes a shot. Save by Keiren Westwood.
69:18 The ball is delivered by Richard Wood, save made by David Marshall.
67:54 The referee blows for offside. Free kick taken by David Marshall.
67:54 Substitution Gabor Gyepes replaces Chris Riggott.
66:35 Effort on goal by Michael Chopra from 20 yards. Nathan Cameron gets a block in. Inswinging corner taken by Craig Bellamy from the left by-line, comfortable save by Keiren Westwood.
65:18 The ball is swung over by Michael Doyle, Lukas Jutkiewicz produces a right-footed shot from deep inside the six-yard box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.
64:56 Lukas Jutkiewicz produces a cross, Mark Hudson manages to make a clearance.
64:38 The ball is sent over by Richard Wood, save by David Marshall.
63:47 Foul by Andrew Keogh on James McPake, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Keiren Westwood.
63:04 Lukas Jutkiewicz is caught offside. Free kick taken by David Marshall.
62:20 Michael Chopra takes a shot. Save made by Keiren Westwood. Corner taken by Peter Whittingham, Keiren Westwood makes a save.
Correction - 61:40 Free kick awarded for a foul by Clive Platt on Lee Naylor. Free kick taken by Lee Naylor.
61:40 Lee Naylor fouled by Clive Platt, the ref awards a .
60:00 Corner taken right-footed by Marlon King, Header from deep inside the area by Lukas Jutkiewicz goes over the bar.
59:29 Foul by Craig Bellamy on Marlon King, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Richard Keogh.
59:29 Booking Craig Bellamy is cautioned by the ref for unsporting behaviour.
58:11 Substitution Freddy Eastwood comes on in place of Gary McSheffrey.
58:11 Substitution Clive Platt replaces Jordan Clarke.
57:47 Peter Whittingham produces a right-footed shot from deep inside the area which goes wide of the left-hand post.
55:16 Craig Bellamy takes a shot. Save by Keiren Westwood. Peter Whittingham produces a left-footed shot from just outside the area that goes wide left of the goal.
53:19 Corner taken by Craig Bellamy played to the near post, Marlon King manages to make a clearance.
51:24 Effort from outside the penalty box by Jordan Clarke goes wide right of the target.
50:21 Andrew Keogh has an effort at goal from the edge of the area that misses to the right of the target.
49:49 Michael Chopra sends in a cross, clearance by Richard Wood.
48:58 The ball is sent over by Marlon King, Gary McSheffrey produces a left-footed shot from close in which goes wide of the left-hand upright.
48:10 Michael Chopra crosses the ball, James McPake manages to make a clearance.
45:01 The second half has started.
Half Time
45:00+1:22 The ref blows to signal half-time.
45:00+0:01 A cross is delivered by Kevin McNaughton, clearance made by James McPake.
43:59 Jordan Clarke crosses the ball, clearance by Stephen McPhail.
43:06 Free kick awarded for a foul by Andrew Keogh on James McPake. Keiren Westwood takes the direct free kick.
42:46 Jordan Clarke sends in a cross, clearance made by Peter Whittingham.
42:02 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on James McPake by Andrew Keogh. Keiren Westwood takes the free kick.
39:41 The ball is crossed by Marlon King, clearance by Chris Riggott. Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Gary McSheffrey, clearance made by Chris Riggott.
38:38 Shot by Craig Bellamy from outside the box goes high over the target.
37:42 Jordan Clarke challenges Craig Bellamy unfairly and gives away a free kick. Lee Naylor takes the direct free kick.
36:42 Shot from just outside the area by Peter Whittingham misses to the right of the target.
35:09 Foul by Stephen McPhail on Michael Doyle, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Keiren Westwood.
34:18 Free kick awarded for a foul by Michael Doyle on Stephen McPhail. David Marshall takes the direct free kick.
34:18 Booking Booking for Michael Doyle for unsporting behaviour.
31:37 The ball is sent over by Craig Bellamy, comfortable save by Keiren Westwood.
30:59 Peter Whittingham crosses the ball, Nathan Cameron makes a clearance.
30:41 Craig Bellamy crosses the ball, Michael Chopra takes a shot. Keiren Westwood makes a save.
28:15 Lukas Jutkiewicz fouled by Chris Riggott, the ref awards a free kick. Direct strike on goal from the free kick comes in from Marlon King, blocked by Stephen McPhail. Outswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Gary McSheffrey, Richard Keogh takes a shot. Save by David Marshall.
26:46 Craig Bellamy is caught offside. Keiren Westwood restarts play with the free kick. Unfair challenge on Lee Carsley by Stephen McPhail results in a free kick. Richard Keogh takes the free kick.
26:11 Michael Chopra takes a shot. Save by Keiren Westwood. Corner taken short by Craig Bellamy.
25:10 Foul by Mark Hudson on Nathan Cameron, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Keiren Westwood.
24:27 Outswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Peter Whittingham, Nathan Cameron manages to make a clearance.
23:49 The ball is swung over by Craig Bellamy, Richard Wood manages to make a clearance.
23:14 Shot by Lukas Jutkiewicz from 20 yards. Save by David Marshall.
22:38 Foul by Michael Chopra on Richard Keogh, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Keiren Westwood.
21:56 Outswinging corner taken by Peter Whittingham from the left by-line, clearance by Richard Keogh.
21:18 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Richard Keogh by Andrew Keogh. Keiren Westwood takes the free kick.
20:06 Free kick awarded for a foul by Richard Keogh on Andrew Keogh. Direct free kick taken by Andrew Keogh. Assist by Craig Bellamy.
20:06 GOAL - Seyi Olofinjana:Cardiff 1 - 0 Coventry Seyi Olofinjana scores a goal from just inside the penalty area to the top right corner of the goal. Cardiff 1-0 Coventry.
17:21 Nathan Cameron gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Kevin McNaughton. Peter Whittingham sends in a cross, Chris Riggott takes a shot. Save made by Keiren Westwood. Outswinging corner taken by Peter Whittingham, Richard Keogh manages to make a clearance.
16:20 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Peter Whittingham by Richard Wood. Kevin McNaughton restarts play with the free kick.
14:06 The ball is crossed by Stephen McPhail, clearance made by Richard Keogh. The ball is swung over by Stephen McPhail, Keiren Westwood makes a save.
13:18 Michael Chopra has an effort from just inside the box that misses to the left of the goal.
11:29 Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Gary McSheffrey, Foul by Richard Keogh on David Marshall, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by David Marshall.
10:12 Peter Whittingham takes a shot. Blocked by James McPake. Centre by Lee Naylor.
8:52 Jordan Clarke crosses the ball, David Marshall makes a save.
7:57 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Lukas Jutkiewicz by Chris Riggott. Richard Wood takes the direct free kick.
7:20 Peter Whittingham concedes a free kick for a foul on Lukas Jutkiewicz. Direct free kick taken by Richard Keogh.
5:16 The assistant referee flags for offside against Andrew Keogh. Keiren Westwood restarts play with the free kick.
2:32 Corner taken left-footed by Peter Whittingham, Header from deep inside the area by Chris Riggott goes harmlessly over the crossbar.
2:20 The ball is sent over by Peter Whittingham, Richard Keogh makes a clearance.
0:58 Centre by Craig Bellamy, clearance made by James McPake.
0:00 The ref blows the whistle to begin the match.
Live text and data provided by The Press Association.
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