Snapshot: Cardiff City's promotion charge was dealt a body blow at Layer Road, as Colchester turned home advantage into a memorable victory over the league leaders. On a day that the Bluebirds were looking decidedly off-key Colchester took full advantage to continue their fine form at home that had already collected some high profile scalps.

After an opening half that was dominated, but not capitalised on by our hosts, Colchester had to wait just three minutes into the second half to take a deserved lead. Moments earlier Kevin Campbell had hit the woodwork, with former Swan Kevin McLeod further emphasising the miss as he connected with and drilled the ball into the net.

The lead only lasted seventeen minutes via the industry of substitute Willo Flood to send a low ball across goal for Chopra to stab home and temporarily kill the party. Celebrations however resumed after the U's had soaked up some Cardiff dominance and regained their lead via substitute Jamie Guy and a sweet strike.

With time ticking away the leveller looked unlikely. Further frustration was still to come in injury time though as a penalty area challenge on Ritchie Jones from Stephen McPhail was warranted enough to send the City midfielder off. Jamie Cureton was comfortable from the spot, hitting home to the bottom corner. The Bluebirds were sent packing to contemplate their shortcomings on a long journey home.

Team News: Steve Thompson's achilles operation as expected gave a first league start for Kevin Campbell up front with Michael Chopra. Apart from that Dave's starting eleven was unchanged from the Sunderland win on Tuesday night. Campbell's starting berth also gave way for a bench spot for Luigi Glombard.

Cardiff XI: Alexander, McNaughton, Loovens, Purse ©, Chambers, Ledley, Scimeca, McPhail, Parry, Chopra, Campbell. Subs: Howard, Johnson, Flood, Kamara, Glombard

Pre-match: 'City were making their return to Layer Road twelve months after their Carling Cup victory. The U's however were now hosting the Bluebirds on level terms following their impressive automatic promotion to the Championship last term. As many teams had already discovered; taking Colchester for granted could prove to be a mistake - a fact that Dave Jones had no doubt driven home prior to the squad running out with the mission on maintaining their points advantage. The league was waiting for us to make a mistake. We hoped that today wouldn't be the day.

Chronological Report: Both teams used the opening five minutes to assess their opponent without any real pressure being imposed on either 'keeper. Colchester then opened a spell of dominance that saw them make good use of the right flank and home advantage.

On six minutes a McNaughton foul gave the first test for Alexander - a free kick on the edge of the area smashed over by Greg Halford. The U's then managed to find the back of the net after breaking past McNaughton and sending the ball into the area. The Colchester celebrations however were short lived on production of the linesman's flag.

Home advantage almost paid moments later as Jamie Cureton broke past Loovens in a central position and one on one with Alexander could have opened the goals if his shot hadn't been directed wide.

Chances continued for our hosts, though none were capitalised on. McLeod after sixteen minutes will regret not finding the target after creating space in the box. City were having the most pressure put on them that we had seen this season and were looking less fluid than their usual selves as the ball was being pumped up the park rather than finding feet.

It took until twenty nine minutes to find a moment of note for Cardiff. Chopra did well to break on the left and give the ball to Ledley to send a neat high cross into the box. Present were Campbell and Scimeca, with Ricky climbing highest to head the ball towards goal. The power was there, but the ball was directed to the hands of Davidson in the U's goal.

City then had perhaps the chance of the half, but like their hosts failed to apply the killer finish. Kevin Campbell first did well to flick the ball onto the run of Paul Parry on the right to allow Parry the space to cut inside his marker and deliver a mid level cross. In came Chopra with a glorious chance to head the ball past Davison, but instead tried to control the ball with his foot - the ball flying in the air from the touch and out of danger.

Our slight form revival continued as our possession and attacking play improved after thirty minutes of U's pressure. Campbell and Chopra linked up well to give Chopra a shot at goal that skimmed the turf before going wide.

Karl Duguid then almost broke deadlock after the ball was well sent in by Cureton, though was fired wide. City then had the last chance from a training ground free-kick that did little to cause a threat. Dave no doubt had a few words to say to his team after a half that we were below par.

HALF TIME: Colchester 0 - 0 Cardiff

Cardiff almost managed to take the lead inside the opening two minutes. Paul Parry was the architect on the right as he broke free and sent in the cross. The ball was picked up and hit by Campbell towards goal, but his strike saw the ball hit the crossbar and rebound out.

The bad luck was to prove more costly than imagined, as a minute later Layer Road erupted following a good ball over to the right of the box for McLeod to connect with. His control and shot was well taken and the ball flew past Alexander to give Colchester the lead.

GOAL: Colchester 1 - 0 Cardiff. McLeod. 48 mins

Colchester were lifted by the advantage and minutes later were almost through again. Johnnie Jackson made a good run along the right to find space in the box and shoot. The ball was hit hard and straight at Alexander.

Dave decided to shake his misfiled up with thirty minutes to go. Joe Ledley was replaced by Willo Flood, giving Flood his longest league appearance since joining in the summer.

The move was inspired as after sixty five minutes Flood was the provider of an unlikely equaliser. Scimeca first sent the ball over to the right for Willo to pick up. He then excellently ghosted inside the area before driving a low cross that found Chopra's path. With more space than should have been allowed Chopra was able to stab the ball home from close range and restore parity against the run of play.

GOAL: Colchester 1 - 1 Cardiff. Chopra. 65 mins

Colchester were rocked by the leveller, but after seventy one minutes should have taken the lead through Cureton. Darren Purse will want to quickly forget his mistaken back pass that was massively under hit to let Cureton in on the right. He then ran in and with time misfired.

Both Bluebirds and U's made changes as the half progressed. First Roger Johnson was brought on for Loovens, with the Dutch defender looking shaky as he left the field. Colchester then introduced Jamie Guy and Ritchie Jones for McLeod and Ilwelumo.

The tension inside Layer Road was building as Cardiff were gaining momentum. Kem Izzet was the first player to be presented a yellow card for a lunging tackle on Chopra.

The tension however turned to ecstasy after eighty two minutes as U's substitute Jamie Guy volleyed home a great goal that Alexander was powerless to prevent. The four and a half thousand Colchester fans went wild with celebration.

GOAL: Colchester 2 - 1 Cardiff. Guy. 82 mins

Malvin Kamara was introduced after the goal to try and again restore parity. Minutes after coming on he came close with a low shot that was well held by Davison.

City heads were down as the prospect of the loss loomed ever closer as the minutes ticked away. Four minutes were added on to raise some hope for the travelling seven hundred strong support before a long journey home.

The possibility of a late restoration was removed two minutes into stoppage time as Stephen McPhail was called to impede substitute Ritchie Jones in the area. McPhail was sent packing and the penalty awarded, which Cureton buried in the left hand corner of Alexander's goal.

While the score line is flattering to our Colchester hosts, the victory was well earned and taken. The penalty was a miserable end to a miserable day and a performance that will have to be improved upon come Saturday when fellow promotion chasers Burnley come to Ninian Park.

FULL TIME: Colchester 3 - 1 Cardiff

Colchester: Davison, Halford, Baldwin, Brown, Elokobi, Duguid, Izzet, Jackson, McLeod (Jones 76), Iwelumo (Guy 76), Cureton.
Subs Not Used: Gerken, White, Richards

Booked: Izzet, Jones

Goals: McLeod 49, Guy 84, Cureton 90 pen

Cardiff: Alexander, Chambers, Purse, Loovens (Johnson 75), McNaughton, Parry (Kamara 85), Scimeca, Ledley (Flood 61), McPhail, Campbell, Chopra.
Subs Not Used: Howard, Glombard

Sent Off: McPhail (90)

Goals: Chopra 66

Att: 5,393

Ref: J Moss (West Yorkshire)

Barrie McAuliffe