CARDIFF CITY 0
BARNSLEY 2 (Bogdanovic 8, 12)

A BRILLIANT Daniel Bogdanovic brace gave the Reds a magnificent victory at Cardiff City.

Barnsley manager Mark Robins rang the changes as he looked to kick start his side's stuttering run of form. Luke Potter came into the heart of defence to replace injured veteran Darren Moore while Jon Macken and Bogdanovic were given the nod in attack at the expense of Andy Gray and Anderson de Silva. Bobby Hassell came in at right back.

It was the Reds' first visit to Cardiff's new home and the Bluebirds were almost in front within two minutes when Peter Whittingham's corner dropped nicely for Gabor Gyepes but the defender blazes a clear chance well over from just six yards out.

Striker Bogdanovic lifted the travelling support on nine minutes as he raced clear onto Hugo Colace's fine pass to race in on goal. The Maltese international did not need a second invitation and stroked it coolly past Peter Enckelman.

Barnsley doubled their advantage within three minutes as Adam Hammill found his passing range to send over a great ball for Bogdanovic to nip in behind Cardiff and lash past Enckelman. It was Bogdanovic's tenth goal of the season.

Cardiff were rattled and manager Dave Jones made a change bringing on Ross McCormack for youngster Aaron Wildig as he looked to spark some life into a sombre Cardiff City Stadium. Former Barnsley striker Michael Chopra wasted a great chance on 40 minutes as his looping header beat Luke Steele but landed on the roof of the net.

A foul on Jay Bothroyd gave McCormack the chance to shoot from 30 yards on the stroke of half time but the striker could only blast the ball into the wall.

It could have been even better for Barnsley in stoppage time when Carl Dickinson's cross from the left gave Colace a chance but the Argentine midfielder could only head wide.

Cardiff were forced into another chance at half time with Anthony Gerrard limping out of the action. Adam Matthews replaced him in defence.

City started the second half brightly and Potter was forced into a foul on Bothroyd on 48 minutes. Whittingham smashed the free kick past the wall and against the upright.

Hammill twice went close to a third for Barnsley on 53 minutes as he cut into the area before bringing a fine save from Enckelman at full stretch. Hammill tested his shooting boots again seconds later as he let fly again but found Enckelman in fine form once more. The chances kept falling for the Reds and Potter met Hammill's corner on 57 minutes but the youngster saw his header well blocked away. At the other end Whittingham again got a shot away on 58 minutes but his shot from distance flew well wide of the target.

Steele had to be alert on 62 minutes as he held onto McCormack's effort but the Reds number one watched the ball all the way and made a comfortable stop in the end. Steele then did wonderfully well to deny Bothroyd a minute later after the striker had broke clear through but this time the keeper did just enough to put the striker off and allowed Stephen Foster the chance to clear. Cardiff finally put the Reds under pressure and Chopra managed to break through one-on-one again on 64 minutes but Steele did magnificently well to deny him. Steele was again in mercurial form seconds later as Gypes nodded goalward from six yards but again the Reds keeper kept Cardiff at bay.

The Reds had a massive slice of luck on 65 minutes when Gavin Rae let fly from the edge of the area and his effort thundered off the underside of the cross bar and bounced away off the line. It was very, very close.

Cardiff went close again on 73 minutes as Matthews throw dropped to Chopra in the area but the striker could only fire straight at Steele when he could have done better.

Substitute Gray almost grabbed a goal with his very first touch on 77 minutes as he rose to meet Hammill's corner but planted his header wide of the mark. It was a chance.

Bothroyd and McCormack combined well on 86 minutes but the chance went begging as the latter smashed one high over the bar from the edge of the box.

BARNSLEY: Steele, Hassell, Dickinson, Foster, Potter, Colace, Doyle, Hammill, Macken (Rodriguez 76), Teixeira, Bogdanovic (Gray 76).
Subs: Preece, Butterfield, Noble-Lazarus, De Silva, Heslop.

CARDIFF CITY: Enckelman, McNaughton, Kennedy, Gyepes, Gerrard (Matthews 45), Burke, Whittingham, Rae, Wildig (McCormack 35), Bothroyd, Chopra.
Subs: Marshall, Quinn, Taiwo, Blake, Feeney.

REFEREE
Keith Stroud (Hampshire)
ASSISTANT REFEREE
Mark Russell (Gloucestershire) and Mark Weaver (West Midlands)
FOURTH OFFICIAL
Chris Powell (Dorset)

Attendance: 19,753

CLICK HERE FOR TICKET INFORMATION FROM OAKWELL!!!