The Sky Blues suffered their second defeat on the road in the space of four days as a Michael Chopra strike was enough to separate the sides.

The game at Ninian Park also saw David McNamee and his replacement Adam Virgo forced off with injuries on a disappointing afternoon.

Micky Adams named an unchanged side from the team that slipped to a two nil defeat at Southampton on Wednesday night.

City, who were sporting their brand new red away kit for the first time, had the first chance of the clash after just 60 seconds, Stern John latching on to a loose ball before dragging his shot wide.

The Sky Blues suffered an early setback after just seven minutes with Scottish international David McNamee forced off with what looked like a hamstring problem, new signing Adam Vigo taking his place at right back.

Just a minute after McNamee had exited proceedings assistant referee Scarr was following the Scotsman down the tunnel with what appeared to be a matching injury.

With 10 minutes gone City again had a chance to take an early lead with Dele Adebola neatly laying the ball off to strike partner John who fired over from inside the box.

Things were going from bad to worse for City and on 17 substitute Adam Vigo was himself heading off, stretchered from the field of play with Jay Tabb coming on his place and Chris Birchall filling in at right back.

At the same time Elliott Ward was shown yellow for a mistimed challenge on Steve Thompson on the edge of the City box but Joe Ledley could only curl the resulting free-kick over the bar.

Despite their terrible bad luck the Sky Blues were displaying great character and a combination of Kerrea Gilbert and the woodwork were all that denied Elliott Ward a vital goal, the former West Ham man meeting a great Stephen Hughes corner on 25.

With 36 minutes played Gary McSheffrey forced a tidy save from Neil Alexander before Andy Marshall tipped a Michael Chopra effort over the bar in spectacular fashion.

Just four minutes before the interval Michael Doyle made a crucial interception at the near post to play the ball behind for a corner and deny the home side a certain goal.

The home side returned from the break with a familiar face among their 11 as Willo Flood - who spent a spell on-loan at the Ricoh last term was a half time replacement for Kerrea Gilbert.

The Sky Blues started the second period the brighter side and after Stern John saw his shot blocked in the box captain Stephen Hughes hit his effort high and wide.

The action was switching from end to another and Marcus Hall had to be on hand to clear the ball from close range as the Welsh side pushed forward.

With 10 minutes gone of the second half the Bluebirds went close through Michael Chopra before at the other end Adebola was almost set free on goal, but the ball from Stern John just didn't carry enough weight.

On 58 the Sky Blues had first Marcus Hall and then Andy Marshall to thank for keeping the scores level as Steven Thompson and former City man Flood caused havoc in the area.

City were forced to play the waiting game as Cardiff began to keep the ball, but on 68 McSheffrey broke away down the left only to be brought down by Flood, a challenge that earned the Irishman a yellow card.

With 15 minutes to go Trinidad and Tobago international showed a clean pair of heels to his marker down the right before sending in a whipping cross, which just failed to reach the head of Adebola.

Jay Tabb and Stern John then combined well before the forward had his shot blocked by a lunging defender.

Andy Marshall was again called into action on 78 as he saved well from Michael Chopra before disaster struck just seconds later.

With the ball not cleared properly from Marshall's acrobatics Joe Ledley was given space to play the ball in from the left and Chopra was again on hand and this time the former Newcastle man made no mistake, poking the ball home from just five yards out.

The Bluebirds' forward was causing all sorts of problems for the City backline and Marshall did well to save as the number eight ran through on goal.

With time running out Micky Adams made his third and final change with Don Hutchison coming on in the place of Dele Adebola as City went looking for an equalizer.

With three minutes remaining Hutchison found John with a great pass, but the former Birmingham and Forest man pulled his shot agonizingly wide of the far post.

The Sky Blues were certainly giving it a good go and former Port Vale midfielder Chris Birchall looked destined to grab the glory after a surging run, but his rising strike cleared the crossbar.

CITY: Marshall; Doyle; McSheffrey; McNamee (Virgo 7 (Tabb 17); Birchall; Hughes; Adebola (Hutchison 86); Heath; John; Ward; Hall. SUBS (not used) Cameron; Thornton.

CARDIFF: Alexander; Gilbert (Flood 46); McNaughton; Purse; Loovens; Chopra (Glombard 90); Thompson (Campbell 76); McPhail; Parry; Ledley; Scimeca. SUBS (not used) Johnson; Howard.

Booked: Ward (17), McPhail (34), Flood (68), Purse (76).

Attendance: 13,965.