Cardiff City won 1-0 at Leicester City’s Walker’s Stadium on Sunday to take a vital lead after the first leg of their Championship Playoff semi-final.
A magnificent second half free-kick from Pater Whittingham proved the difference between the sides but Cardiff also have to be thankful to goalkeeper David Marshall for a brilliant late save from Alexc Bruce.
Cardiff striker Jay Bothroyd had an early chance when he fired a 30-yard effort wide, with Nolberto Solano soon drawing a save from Marshall at the other end with a free-kick.
Michael Chopra then dragged a chance wide for the visitors after good set-up play from Bothroyd, but Leicester were having more of the ball if not creating the chances they needed in what was becoming a tackle-heavy contest.
Cardiff were creating half chances or better when they got the ball with Darcy Blake's overhead kick not too difficult for Chris Weale to hold, before Chopra gave the Foxes goalkeeper much more of a fright when he touched Chris Burke’s cross onto the Leicester post.
However, the scoreboard was unmoved at the break, after which Bothroyd had another Bluebirds chance when he used all his strength to rise above the Leicester defence and powerfully head Kevin McNaughton’s cross off the top of the bar.
The visitors were beginning to boss the game now with Leicester reduced to a spot of hit and hope when Richie Wellens sent a 25-yard effort just wide of Marshall’s left-hand post.
A wretched tackle on Jack Hobbs from Bothroyd then saw the former Wolves man booked and he was given a final warning shortly after following another bad challenge on Mark Hudson.
Wellens and Lloyd Dyer then both went close for the home side as Nigel Pearson succeeded in getting his men to raise their game again.
But they then had to raise their spirits after falling behind to a peach from Whittingham. Pearson had just introduced Yann Kermorgant for Martyn Waghorn, but the sub’s first action of note was to foul Chopra 25 yards out to the left and Cardiff’s top scorer Whittingham sent in a brilliant left-foot shot that found space beneath Weale to rocket in off of the near post.
Sub Matt Fryatt and Paul Gallagher both soon came close to an equaliser, with the former running clean through before a poor effort was straight at Marshall and Gallagher then connecting with a wicked curling shot but it went just the wrong side of the post.
The home side also wanted a penalty at the death as they claimed that Stephen McPhail handballed in the area but nothing was given and the Foxes then were further frustrated as Hudson blocked Gallagher from close range.
Marsahall then saved brilliantly at point blank range from a Bruce header from Gallagher’s corner and ensured that his side go into Wednesday’s second leg at the Cardiff City Stadium with a one-goal advantage.