Yousef Salech's first-half strike secured Cardiff City a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Birmingham City at Cardiff City Stadium, earning Brian Barry-Murphy's side a third successive home win and their first Championship clean sheet since April.
The striker was the hero after being promoted from the bench when Krystian Bielik withdrew during the warm-up. Barry-Murphy watched from the stands after receiving a one-match touchline suspension for accumulating three yellow cards this season.
Penalty save and opener
In horrendous conditions, with driving rain and swirling winds affecting both sides, Birmingham almost struck first when Jay Stansfield's delivery found Luis Vazquez at the back post, but the striker failed to convert.
Cardiff were handed a golden opportunity to take the lead after 21 minutes when Tomoki Iwata was penalised for hauling down Perry Ng from a corner. Salech stepped up, but his low penalty was brilliantly saved by James Beadle, who dived to his right to keep the scores level.
The striker made amends just 11 minutes later. After determined work from the hosts to retain possession on the edge of Birmingham's penalty area, Ollie Tanner drilled a low cross into the box. Salech showed tremendous strength to hold off Phil Neumann before turning the ball beyond Beadle into the bottom corner.
Second-half resilience
Cardiff continued to threaten after the interval and should have doubled their advantage when Salech squared for Cian Ashford, only for the youngster's effort to be saved by Beadle's legs. Salech then dragged an effort narrowly wide after Cardiff's pressing forced Birmingham into an error, while Ashford squandered another excellent opportunity following a counter-attack involving Jack Moylan.
The visitors began to threaten as the second half wore on, but Will Fish was outstanding at the heart of Cardiff's defence, producing several crucial interventions to deny Stansfield. Marvin Ducksch headed a glorious opportunity wide with seven minutes remaining before Nathan Trott produced a sensational save in the 89th minute, diving to his right to deny Demarai Gray from close range.
Cardiff survived a late corner to secure their first Championship clean sheet since April and a third successive home victory, claiming a hugely impressive win against a Birmingham side who arrived in the Welsh capital sitting fourth in the table and having won their previous three matches.
