It will hardly be remembered as the best game of the season, but Cardiff on Saturday managed to beat Norwich at a time when points are more important than total football.The winner came in the early bird show to confirm three points via the boot of Paul Parry; the Welsh International connecting with the ball well, then finding some luck as the ball rebounded off a defender and back to Parry to smash past a committed and despairing Tony Warner and fly into the back of the net.

While the goal looked likely to signal an explosive encounter, it instead managed to take the impetus out of the game as quality football despite the effort was found wanting following the restart.

Cardiff dominated proceedings in the first half, restricting their guests to speculative chances, although the Canaries did eventually settle and find a foothold in the game without ever really threatening too much.The half closed with some solid chances for Cardiff via the industry of Thompson and Chopra, but strong defending restricted a second going into the interval.

Norwich were more of a threat in the second half, but again the action was limited and tension increased as the single goal left the possibility of an equaliser to our guests. Their late rally perhaps should have seen parity restored, but two outstanding saves from the City keeper denied their chances and earned Alexander a man of the match award to boot.

Four minutes were added from somewhere, but City nervously held on, with the Canaries even finding the back of the net through Huckerby in the dying seconds, though his effort was denied on the linesman's flag to secure three points for Cardiff.