A determined Cardiff hammer Rams 4-1

Despite the final score, it was Derby who controlled much of the first half in the Welsh capital. As a result of their dominance, Derby's John Eustace gave referee Neil Swarbrick an early decision to make with a claim for a foul inside Cardiff's penalty area, although it was not given. Eustace went on to force a good save out of Cardiff 'keeper Stuart Taylor with an overhead kick, later in the half.

However the less than clinical finishing was always going to give Cardiff a way back into the game and in the 16th minute, Roger Johnson nodded a Peter Whittingham free kick past a sprawling Stephen Bywater.

Following an action packed 20 minutes, the remainder of the first half was flat and tedious, neither side creating a goal-worthy chance.

In the second half, however, Cardiff looked a team determined to kill off any chance of a Derby comeback and that is just what happened. A neat passing move between Chopra and Mcphail sent Gavin Rae clear of the Derby backline. Rae took the ball around Bywater and slotted home as if he'd been a centre forward his entire career.

Soon after, Derby were dead and buried for good when a Peter Whittingham corner was poorly defended, leaving Jay Bothroyd to poke home from close range.

Both sides knew the game was over and even so, second half substitute Eddie Johnson took advantage of a Derby mix up with a top quality finish, sending Bluebirds fans into raptures with only his second goal for the club.
Although Derby managed to pull a goal back in the way of an Eddie Johnson sliced own goal, Cardiff had the vital three points in the bag.