Leeds United saw their six game winning home run come to a halt as Cardiff snatched a victory with a rare attempt on target.
A tight game looked like it was always going to be settled by one goal and it was new signing Frazier Campbell who won the game for Cardiff with his first touch in a Cardiff shirt after signing from Sunderland in midweek.
Campbell had only been on the pitch a matter of minutes as a second half substitute when he diverted a Craig Bellamy shot past Paddy Kenny after a poor clearance by the usually reliable Sam Byram.
Ross Barkley missed a great chance to give Leeds a first half lead when he could only fire straight at David Marshall in the Cardiff goal with the goal at his mercy and Tom Lees missed a late chance to earn Leeds a draw when his point -lank header was straight at Marshall.
Leeds had looked the better side for much of the game and had the best opportunities.
Ross McCormack had a good opportunity to open the scoring against his former club after David Marshall handled a back pass inside the area. McCormack saw his free kick blocked by the Cardiff wall.
Barkley really should have given Leeds the lead when he found himself unmarked at the back post but his shot was straight at Marshall.
Cardiff had rarely threatened but Paddy Kenny in the Leeds goal had to be alert when Peter Whittingham`s corner nearly sneaked in at the near post.
Barkley then flashed another effort well wide after Rodolph Austin`s weak strike rebounded to him.
It was proving to be a tough half for Barkley. The on loan Everton youngster then presented the ball to Chris Conway but he fired well over, much to the relief of Barkley.
Cardiff thought they had taken the lead just before half time when Craig Bellamy put the ball home from close range but the assistant`s flag was up for offside.
Leeds started the second half brightly with both Rodolph Austin and Michael Brown failing to trouble Marshall with shots.
At the other end, Tommy Smith screwed a shot wide when he found himself one-on-one with Lees.
Both defences were on top, with any chance on goal usually being blocked by sprawling bodies.
It looked like the game was header for a goalless draw when Byram tried to clear up field but his miss-hit clearance fell to Bellamy on the edge of the area. His left foot shot ran into the path of Campbell who diverted the ball past Kenny. It was a mixed afternoon for the Campbell household, with his dad, a lifelong Leeds fan in the crowd.
As much as they tried late on, with Lees heading straight at Marshall, they could not find a way through the Cardiff defence.
It was another missed opportunity for Leeds who remain six points off the play-off places in twelfth place.
Teams
Leeds
Byram, Peliter, Lees, White, Barkley, Austin, Brown, Varney, Diouf (Habibou 73), McCormack
Subs not used
Ashdown, Pearce, Warnock, Tonge, Green, Norris
Cardiff
Marshall, Taylor, Hudson, Turner, Connolly, Gunnarsson, Whittingham, Kim (Campbell 61), Conway (Helguson 79), Smith, Bellamy
Subs not used
Lewis, McNaughton, Cowie, Noone, Mason
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