Snapshot: Disaster was the only word that can be used to describe the second forty five minutes, as Cardiff capitulated to the Potters to the tune of three goals to nil at the Britannia Stadium on Tuesday night. It seemed that fate had predetermined the result as the only one possible after last season when the same score-line had come twice in our favour.

After enjoying the better of the first half without being able to capitalise or cause any real threat, Cardiff looked to go into the second half to go a step further and score. What followed however was a spell of six minutes that could only be taken to disbelief as Stoke turned the game on its head to knock Cardiff from the top spot.

Goals in quick succession from Ricardo Fuller, Liam Lawrence and Mamamdy Sidibe followed to end our previous good run of form in the Potteries, though further bad news was to follow as an off the ball incident saw Stephen McPhail sent off after an altercation with Stoke's Hendrie.

If games like this are said to build character, then ours leaving the Potteries will need some assistance getting back down the motorway to South Wales - it's currently massive. The only positive of the night came via a late Coventry goal to prevent Preston pulling three points ahead, while next up come a confidence filled Colchester to Ninian Park and the prospect of a negative double if we can't get back to winning ways. Who ever said that it was boring?

Team News: Dave met expectation with his starting eleven, as Roger Johnson again came into join Darren Purse at the back while Glenn Loovens spends time out injured with a groin strain. It was a case of as you were for Cardiff in terms of the players to start, with the only change coming on the bench as the returning Kevin Cooper came in for Luigi Glombard.

Chronological Report: The opening half was largely devoid of clear-cut chances as both Bluebirds and Potters cancelled each other out, although Cardiff became the more dominant force as the half progressed.

The first chance of note for either side came after seventeen minutes of play as a clever left footed ball was curled towards the back stick from Paul Parry. There to meet it effectively unchallenged after the ball had cleared two defenders was Michael Chopra, but what was expected to be an easy opener for the travelling Bluebirds was headed back across goal and out of danger by the City striker.

Stoke were enjoying slightly more of the possession in the opening twenty minutes, but the home fans inside the Britannia Stadium were becoming restless as the Bluebirds looked more in control, winning the majority of second balls. After twenty two minutes Chopra again tried his luck on Simonsen's goal, but his effort was directed over the bar.

After weathering a spell of City pressure, Stoke on thirty three minutes looked to test Neil Alexander for the first time, but Vincent Pericard's ambitious shot was always heading over the bar. With two minutes to the interval Stoke tried their luck from distance again - this time Darel Russell with a right footed shot from thirty yards that missed wide on the right.

It was a half that was enjoyed more from an away perspective, but without capitalising on the forty five minutes of pressure, neither Bluebird nor Potter could leave the field comfortable.

Half Time: Stoke 0 - 0 Cardiff

Stoke came out stronger in the early stages of the second half, with both teams getting stuck in from the whistle.

Steve Thompson booked for a foul on Michael Duberry after five minutes. With Stoke lacking any real chances up front, Tony Pulis decided to mix his attacking line while waiting for the free kick - Pericard leaving the field for former Saint Riccardo Fuller.

The temperature inside the Britannia Stadium was rising as Duberry returned the favour to Thompson with a hard challenge that saw his own name entered into the book. City skipper Darren Purse saw the challenge and ran forward to halt a possible meeting of the two players and any further disciplinary action.

After having enjoyed the better of the ball in the first half, City were then punished for not taking their chances as an error just before the hour gave Stoke the lead. A slip in midfield from Roger Johnson gave the ball to Liam Lawrence who then fed a pass to Ricardo Fuller. Again Fuller enjoyed facing Cardiff as he drilled a shot from the left.

GOAL: STOKE 1 - 0 CARDIFF. Fuller (59 mins)

Stoke took the goal advantage to launch what would be an amazing five minute assault that taught the visiting Bluebirds a harsh lesson - Cardiff suddenly looking a pale shadow of the team that had risen to the table summit in the opening months, or even the team that had gone in at half time.

First it was the on loan Liam Lawrence who after a Potters corner smashed a goal past Alexander twelve yards out after being given too much space.

GOAL: STOKE 2 - 0 CARDIFF. Lawrence (61 mins)

Seconds later the Potters were gifted the run of the pitch as Fuller looked to shoot himself, but instead gave the ball to Sidebe who had all the time in the world to pick his spot.

GOAL: STOKE 3 - 0 CARDIFF. Sidibe (64 mins)

With the game sent beyond all hope in the space of six minutes, Cardiff tried their best to try and salvage some pride from the game. Substitutions were made to try and revitalise our chances, with Malvin Kamara coming on for Joe Ledley and Kevin Campbell replacing Steven Thompson.

Stoke substitute Patrik Berger came closest to finding the back of the net, as set free by Fuller he hit the ball over the bar.

Seemingly at the worse point of the season, our evening however was to take a further negative turn, with an off the ball incident between McPhail and Villa loan signing Lee Hendrie giving referee Mike Riley enough cause to send McPhail off - the Cardiff midfielders second red card of the campaign, though his dismissal at Colchester was overturned.

It would seem that due to the nature of the sending off, McPhail could be out for three games, making selection issues for Dave Jones with the transfer window for loans only just closed.

RED CARD: McPhail. 85 mins

The game was played out by both in the knowledge that the result had been settled. The Bluebirds will have to take stock over the coming days and find a way to regroup after the heaviest defeat of the campaign. With Colchester smashing in five against struggling Hull (and former boss Parkinson who left for 'better things'), it will take a lot of character to prevent an early double done over us on the weekend.

FULL TIME: STOKE 3 - 0 CARDIFF

Stoke: Simonsen, Hoefkens, Duberry, Higginbotham, Griffin, Hendrie (Brammer 87), Russell, Diao, Lawrence (Berger 68), Sidibe, Pericard (Fuller 52).

Subs Not Used: Hill, Buxton. Booked: Duberry.

Goals: Fuller 60, Lawrence 63, Sidibe 65.

Cardiff: Alexander, McNaughton, Purse, Johnson, Wright, Ledley (Kamara 66), Scimeca, McPhail, Parry, Chopra, Thompson (Campbell 75).

Subs Not Used: Howard, Cooper, Gunter.

Sent Off: McPhail (85).

Booked: Thompson, Chopra.

Att: 15,039

Ref: M Riley (W Yorkshire)

Report: Barrie McAuliffe