Brett Pitman scored his seventh goal in as many games as Bristol City sent Cardiff crashing to a second successive defeat in the Severnside derby.
The ex-Bournemouth striker took just three minutes to convert Jon Stead's cross from the right.
Stead later supplied Lee Johnson for Bristol City's second in a similar move, and Jamal Campbell-Ryce coolly finished the third.
Michael Chopra came closest for the visitors striking the post.
Boss Dave Jones' Cardiff have won just once in their last seven games and slip to fifth in the Championship, having conceded seven goals in their last two.
But it was a much-needed boost for City whose win came for the first time in four attempts and climb away from the relegation zone.
The Robins were ahead after just three minutes when Stead crossed from the right and Pitman buried the ball home.
Cardiff rallied and David James fumbled Peter Whittingham's effort before the Bluebirds lost defender Chris Rigott to injury.
And then the visitors had goalkeeper Tom Heaton to thank for a brilliant double-save, first from Pitman and then Campbell-Ryce.
Wrong decisions cost Cardiff - Jones
Cardiff should have been level midway thorough the first half when Mark Hudson skied the ball over from six yards before Michael Chopra struck the post after latching on to Whittingham's ball into the box.
But the home side doubled their lead six minutes before the break with an almost carbon-copy of the first goal.
Stead was the supplier again from the right and this time Johnson found the back of the net.
City continued to press after the break and Cardiff were given a let-off when Campbell-Ryce chipped over the bar.
Heaton was called into action again soon after making a good save from Pitman and then from Stead's low strike.
But the Cardiff stopper could do nothing about the third goal 10 minutes after the break when Campbell-Ryce ran towards goal and coolly slotted home.
There was no way back for Cardiff and Bristol City pushed for more goals and Stead sent another attempt over the bar before having a 20-yard drive saved by Heaton.
Live text and stats
Saturday, 1 January 2011
Npower Championship
Home Team
Score
Away Team
Time
Bristol City
3-0
Cardiff
FT
(HT 2-0)
Pitman 3
Johnson 39
Campbell-Ryce 55
Bristol City
01 James
22 Nyatanga
36 Caulker
07 Elliott
08 Johnson yellow card
14 Skuse (Ribeiro 52)
20 Campbell-Ryce yellow card
21 Cisse yellow card
27 Adomah yellow card (Sproule 77)
30 Stead (Clarkson 88)
34 Pitman
Substitutes
12 Gerken,
05 Stewart,
19 Ribeiro,
23 Edwards,
17 Sproule,
09 Clarkson,
11 Haynes
Cardiff
22 Heaton
02 McNaughton
03 Naylor
05 Hudson
31 Riggott (Blake 16)
07 Whittingham (Burke 49)
10 McPhail
20 Olofinjana
08 Chopra yellow card
17 Keogh (Koumas 67)
39 Bellamy
Substitutes
30 Santiago,
14 Quinn,
04 Rae,
11 Burke,
19 Koumas,
23 Blake,
27 Matthews
Ref: AttwellAtt: 15,683
BRISTOL CITY
CARDIFF
Possession
Bristol City52%
Cardiff48%
Attempts on target
Bristol City12
Cardiff4
Attempts off target
Bristol City6
Cardiff5
Corners
Bristol City3
Cardiff5
Fouls
Bristol City13
Cardiff7
Final Result
94:07 The final whistle goes and the game is over.
Full Time
90:00+3:38 Shot from outside the box by Michael Chopra misses to the left of the target.
90:00+2:33 Chris Burke fouled by Lewin Nyatanga, the ref awards a free kick. Chris Burke restarts play with the free kick.
90:00+0:24 Jason Koumas produces a left-footed shot from just outside the box that misses to the right of the goal.
87:29 Corner taken right-footed by Chris Burke, clearance by Lewin Nyatanga.
87:29 Substitution David Clarkson replaces Jonathan Stead.
85:11 Mark Hudson challenges Jonathan Stead unfairly and gives away a free kick. Indirect free kick taken by Lewin Nyatanga.
82:50 Ivan Sproule gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jason Koumas. Lee Naylor restarts play with the free kick.
82:16 The official flags Craig Bellamy offside. David James takes the indirect free kick.
78:16 Christian Ribeiro concedes a free kick for a foul on Lee Naylor. The free kick is swung in right-footed by Jason Koumas.
76:06 Substitution Ivan Sproule is brought on as a substitute for Albert Adomah.
71:53 Effort on goal by Jonathan Stead from just inside the area clears the bar.
71:10 Chris Burke takes a shot. Blocked by Albert Adomah.
70:04 Michael Chopra gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Steven Caulker. Free kick taken by Lee Johnson.
70:04 Booking Michael Chopra booked for unsporting behaviour.
66:38 Substitution Jason Koumas on for Andrew Keogh.
64:31 Effort from deep inside the area by Albert Adomah misses to the left of the goal.
62:06 Jonathan Stead takes a shot. Darcy Blake gets a block in. Corner taken by Brett Pitman from the left by-line, Jonathan Stead produces a right-footed shot from inside the area that goes over the bar.
59:10 Corner from left by-line taken by Craig Bellamy.
59:10 Booking The referee shows Albert Adomah a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.
58:20 Chris Burke fouled by Jonathan Stead, the ref awards a free kick. The free kick is delivered right-footed by Chris Burke from right wing, Jonathan Stead makes a clearance.
58:20 Booking Kalifa Cisse is shown a yellow card.
55:05 Booking Booking for Jamal Campbell-Ryce.
54:18 GOAL - Jamal Campbell-Ryce:Bristol City 3 - 0 Cardiff Jamal Campbell-Ryce finds the back of the net with a goal from just outside the box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Bristol City 3-0 Cardiff.
53:22 Jonathan Stead takes a shot. Save by Tom Heaton.
52:48 Outswinging corner taken by Chris Burke from the right by-line played to the near post, clearance by Jamal Campbell-Ryce.
51:56 Substitution (Bristol City) makes a substitution, with Christian Ribeiro coming on for Cole Skuse.
50:42 Jonathan Stead takes a shot. Save made by Tom Heaton.
49:57 Brett Pitman takes a shot. Tom Heaton makes a save. Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Lee Johnson.
48:57 Effort from the edge of the area by Albert Adomah goes wide of the left-hand post.
48:57 Substitution Chris Burke is brought on as a substitute for Peter Whittingham.
48:29 Seyi Olofinjana takes a shot. Blocked by Kalifa Cisse.
47:24 Jamal Campbell-Ryce produces a cross.
45:01 The second half has started.
Half Time
45:00+2:03 The match has reached half-time.
42:49 Free kick awarded for a foul by Brett Pitman on Mark Hudson. Tom Heaton takes the free kick.
42:26 Shot by Brett Pitman from outside the box goes high over the target.
41:49 Albert Adomah fouled by Lee Naylor, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick crossed right-footed by Lee Johnson, clearance made by Seyi Olofinjana.
38:26 Assist by Jonathan Stead.
38:26 GOAL - Lee Johnson:Bristol City 2 - 0 Cardiff Goal scored by Lee Johnson from deep inside the penalty area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Bristol City 2-0 Cardiff.
36:41 Mark Hudson fouled by Steven Caulker, the ref awards a free kick. Tom Heaton takes the free kick.
36:03 Seyi Olofinjana gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Marvin Elliott. Free kick taken by Cole Skuse.
35:27 Free kick awarded for a foul by Jonathan Stead on Darcy Blake. Lee Naylor takes the free kick.
33:18 Michael Chopra takes a shot. Blocked by Cole Skuse. Corner taken left-footed by Peter Whittingham from the right by-line to the near post, clearance made by Jonathan Stead. Corner taken by Peter Whittingham.
32:49 Marvin Elliott challenges Stephen McPhail unfairly and gives away a free kick. Stephen McPhail takes the indirect free kick.
32:26 Jamal Campbell-Ryce takes a shot. Comfortable save by Tom Heaton.
31:06 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Albert Adomah by Lee Naylor. Free kick taken by Cole Skuse.
30:50 Michael Chopra produces a right-footed shot from just inside the penalty area and hits the post.
29:34 Marvin Elliott challenges Seyi Olofinjana unfairly and gives away a free kick. Lee Naylor restarts play with the free kick.
28:59 Header on goal by Brett Pitman from just inside the area goes over the target.
27:55 Mark Hudson produces a right-footed shot from inside the area that clears the bar.
27:08 Albert Adomah gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Craig Bellamy. Indirect free kick taken by Lee Naylor.
26:26 Peter Whittingham delivers the ball.
24:05 Peter Whittingham is adjudged to have handled the ball. Indirect free kick taken by David James.
20:40 Brett Pitman takes a shot. Save by Tom Heaton. Jamal Campbell-Ryce takes a shot. Save by Tom Heaton.
19:20 The assistant referee flags for offside against Craig Bellamy. David James takes the free kick.
18:20 Lee Johnson takes a shot. Save by Tom Heaton.
17:01 Kalifa Cisse challenges Andrew Keogh unfairly and gives away a free kick. Stephen McPhail takes the indirect free kick.
15:12 Substitution Chris Riggott leaves the field to be replaced by Darcy Blake.
14:04 Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Brett Pitman played to the near post, Mark Hudson manages to make a clearance.
13:12 Michael Chopra produces a right-footed shot from inside the area that clears the bar.
12:53 Peter Whittingham takes a shot. Save made by David James.
8:56 Michael Chopra fouled by Lee Johnson, the ref awards a free kick. Lee Naylor takes the indirect free kick.
8:56 Booking Lee Johnson booked for unsporting behaviour.
7:31 Seyi Olofinjana gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Marvin Elliott. Indirect free kick taken by David James.
6:54 Unfair challenge on Lee Naylor by Albert Adomah results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Tom Heaton.
5:05 Free kick awarded for a foul by Lee Naylor on Brett Pitman. Lee Johnson takes the free kick.
2:34 Jonathan Stead provided the assist for the goal.
2:34 GOAL - Brett Pitman:Bristol City 1 - 0 Cardiff Brett Pitman gets on the score sheet with a goal from close in to the bottom left corner of the goal. Bristol City 1-0 Cardiff.
1:41 Mark Hudson is penalised for handball and concedes a free kick. Free kick taken by Lee Johnson.
0:45 Jonathan Stead takes a shot. Save by Tom Heaton.
0:00 The referee gets the match started.
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