Don Cowie and Matt Connolly scored the goals that earned City a 2 nil win at Hillsbrough against Dave Jones' Sheffield Wednesday.
Craig Bellamys inswinging corner was cleared to the edge of box where Cowie fired through a crowd of players on the sroke of half time to make it 1 - 0 and Connolly found himself unmarked to head home a Peter Whittingham free kick mid way through the second half.
While the win was a great boost after three matches without picking up maximum points what was happening elsewhere in Yorkshire was making it doubly good.
Hull in 2nd lost 2 - 1 at home to Forest so Cardiff's gap to 2nd place is now 7 points and at Oakwell Barnsley beat Watford 1 - 0 to see City's gap on third place opened to 9 points.
And City have a game in hand on both sides as well.
Crystal Palace could reduce the gap to third place to 7 points if they beat Brighton today.
With no matches next week the Championship returns on Easter weekend with a double header of games, Cardiff face a trip to Peterborough on Easter Saturday and a home game with Blackburn on Easter Monday.