Snapshot: Home ground after six years didn't help too much as City fell to an opening day defeat at the hands of Stoke. A single first half goal was the difference between the two, coming against the run of play to new Potter Ryan Shawcross - the Manchester United youngster opening his account at the back stick from a deflected corner.

Cardiff showed some impressive play in the opening two thirds, but will need to sharpen up over the coming weeks. A late penalty award looked to have given us what would have been a fair draw, though Steve MacLean was denied by Simonsen, who impressed throughout with a fine collection of saves.

Chronological Report: The match opened to a frenetic pace, City almost capitalising inside the opening four minutes as McPhail found Sinclair on the right, who then sent a cool cross into the Stoke area. Blue shirts were piling into the area, and Warren Feeney almost capitalised on a Higginbotham deflection - though the pace on the ball was just too much to reach.

Stoke were looking to impose themselves, mainly via the massive frame of Sidibe. The opening ten minutes however were arguably ours through some solid attacking runs from the likes of Ledley and Rae, while McPhail and Sinclair were providing some tough questions for the Stoke back-line with some pinpoint deliveries.

Cardiff were on the front foot and looking hungry for an opener - applause rightly being levelled at McPhail for pulling the strings with some killer passes, while Trevor Sinclair continued to build his reputation with his brand of never say die play, chasing every ball as it was the last.

A call of a Stoke handball and penalty from Trevor's chip was waved away after sixteen minutes, followed by a massive chance for MacLean four minutes later. Trevor was the provider on the right, finding MacLean in open space in front of goal. We hoped for the best, but MacLean's control was found wanting as the ball escaped.

Stoke then looked to capitalise immediately through a neat break. Fuller found space on the left and weaved his way through towards Turnbull before hitting a tight angle drive that our new number one blocked instinctively with his body.

City were looking the scoring prospect, but found themselves a goal behindafter twenty six minutes form a rare Stoke corner. The ball was sent in from the right and found the far corner of the six yard box with a flick-on, picked up by Thursday night Man United loan signing Ryan Shawcross who easily netted to send the visiting Potters into orbit.

GOAL: CARDIFF 0 - 1 STOKE. Shawcross. 26 mins

Cardiff aimed to rectify the deficit only a minute after going behind - Joe Ledley making the most of his midfield role witha rocket from twenty five yards that produced a fine save from Simonsen in the Stoke goal.

The half continued with possession more evenly shared, with a moment or two of controversy featuring referee Tanner. First McPhail was chopped down just outside of the area, with Tanner allowing play to continue under a hail of boos. City fired forward into the box where Feeney was also smashed - both players needing attention before being able to resume. The referee then found some extra South Wales fans just before the interval as Loovens was shown a yellow for a robust, but fair challenge on Stephen Wright.

Three minutes of time were added before the break, with City needing to cash in on their dominance in the second half if anything is to be taken from the match.

HALF TIME: CARDIFF 0 - 1 STOKE

No changes were made after the interval. Stoke were the first to impose themselves on the half through a bursting run from Fuller towards Turnbull in the Grange End goal. The striker looked a good prospect to find the back of the net before he was put off at the death by Kevin McNaughton.

Minutes later we were given an opportunity in front of the Canton Stand after McPhail was brought down by Wright - this time the challenge enough to warrant a yellow card to accompany our free-kick. McPhail was the deliverer, floating the ball over to the back stick and narrowly missing the rising Johnson.

Cardiff were finding any final third play lacking in the opening exchanges, although Stoke looked to break regularly through Fuller who was proving to be a handful. On a few occasions he managed to trick his way into the area, denied only by Glenn Loovens hoofing the ball away to deny any joy.

With thirty minutes remaining Dave Jones made his first change of the match, subbing Warren Feeney with Paul Parry - the lack of strikers on the bench meaning a makeshift forward role for our longest serving first-team pro.

Parry almost made an impact inside his first few minutes, prevented by a run into the area by Higginbotham. Minutes later the Stoke 'keeper was on hand to deny Parry again as Ledley drilled a tight angled ball into the area towards his International team-mate.

City's quest for an equaliser was almost rewarded after seventy minutes via new striker Steven MAclean - the former Owl controlling the ball well with his feet before firing a shot at Simonsen that produced yet another addition to his showreel with a fine save.

A forced City substitution came before the corner could be taken, seeing Stephen McPhail leave the field with a knock. In his place came Peter Whittingham.

Further free-kicks in dangerous areas came for City, although there was no way to capitalise on the chances presented to our frustration. Another yellow was then produced, this time for Gavin Rae in a challenge with Fuller - Fuller coming off as a precaution for John Eustace.

Time was running out for Cardiff, with little happening inside the Stoke box to raise our hopes for an equaliser. At the other end it could have been made two by Sidwell, denied only by an outstretched Turnbull for a corner.

Our hopes of parity were close to being realised with only four minutes remaining - the chance coming from the spot after MacLean's turn in the box saw the ball handled by a Stoke defender.After some expected gamesmanship from the Potter's keeper, up stepped MacLean, though his drive was sent mid height and saved to our dismay. To add to our woes the rebound came out and was also missed, sending the Stoke fans wild.

The miss certainly knocked the stuffing out of the City players, as the game came to the inevitable conclusion of an opening day defeat. Next up are Brighton in the Carling Cup on Tuesday - the action again at Ninian Park, with hopefully a better result to set us up before the trip to Queens Park Rangers next Saturday.

FULL TIME: CARDIFF 0 - 1 STOKE