Walton points the fingers as he's hauled away
A trademark free-kick in the 44th minute by Michael Chopra gave City victory against rock-bottom Leeds United but they had to hang on at the end after finishing with nine players.
Chopra was the first to be dismissed in the 65th minute and Simon Walton followed seven minutes from time.
The Bluebirds also had a Steven Thompson second-half penalty saved by Casper Ankergren.
City had Kevin McNaughton in central defence for the suspended Glenn Loovens and it made for an uncertain start as United piled on the pressure.
Leeds had the Cardiff backline creaking and it was only last-ditch tackles by Kerrea Gilbert and Joe Ledley that prevented them from opening their account.
The pressure was only relieved by trickery down the flanks from Peter Whittingham, who made some delightful runs, but Chopra and Thompson were rarely in the early action.
It was McNaughton's turn to win a decisive tackle as Leeds continued to stretch the home defence by hoisting the ball over the top at every opportunity.
A shuddering collision by Leeds players Jonathon Douglas and Rui Marques led to both players leaving the field with head injuries.
Marques was immediately replaced by Hayden Foxe but it was while they were down to ten men that City took the lead against the run of play.
Walton was fouled just outside the area and Chopra fired in the free-kick with Ankergren a spectator in the visitors goal.
The Bluebirds made a switch at the interval with Chris Gunter replacing the injured Gilbert but they were reduced to ten men when Chopra received a second yellow card after a flailing arm which caught Foxe.
Thompson had a glorious chance to make the game safe after Tresor Kandol handled in the box but Ankergren brilliantly tipped over the Scottish striker's spot-kick.
Worse was to come as Walton received his marching orders following his second yellow card after an innocuous challenge on Kevin Nicholls.
City were now up against it but they defended magnificently and Paul Parry even broke away to lob over the keeper only for Foxe to race back and hack off the line.
In stoppage time Leeds fashioned their only real strike on goal when Douglas hit a crisp shot but Neil Alexander dived low to safely gather and the clock ticked away to give the Bluebirds a superb backs-to-the-wall victory.
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