Chopra leads the way as Cardiff run riot

Bristol City 0 Cardiff City 6

Three goals in five first-half minutes set the tone as Cardiff crushed Bristol City and go fourth in the Championship. Michael Chopra and Ross McCormack both scored twice, Peter Whittingham netted his 15th goal of the season and Liam Fontaine put through his own net as the visitors made it seven games unbeaten with a stunning display.

Whittingham broke the deadlock when Joe Ledley's pass sent Chopra clear. Dean Gerken saved his effort but the ball fell for Whittingham to stroke home. The Bluebirds doubled their lead when Adam Matthews' long punt found Gavin Rae whose shot beat Gerken and allowed McCormack to tap into an empty net. They made it three 60 seconds later when Chopra drilled home a low shot.

The Robins went in at half-time to boos after conceding a fourth in the 43rd minute – Chopra's cross falling to Liam Fontaine who put it into own net. It got more embarrassing for the home side in the second half when Chopra added his second and then Whittingham played a corner short to McCormack who scored from distance.

Cardiff manager Dave Jones said the victory owed much to the prospect of their FA Cup fifth-round tie at Stamford Bridge. He said: "After the draw paired us with Chelsea there was a real buzz about the place. Virtually everything we hit went in."

His Bristol City counterpart, Gary Johnson, had to run the gauntlet of angry fans: "It's the sort of night when it is best not to say much," he said.

Bristol City Gerken, Orr, Carey, Fontaine, McAllister (Nyatanga, h-t), Haynes (Elliott, 50), Hartley (Sno, 79), Skuse, Campbell-Ryce, Maynard, Agyemang. Substitutes not used: Collis (gk), Clarkson, Sproule, Saborio.

Cardiff City Marshall, Matthews, Gyepes, Gerrard, Kennedy, Whittingham (Burke, 89), Rae (Blake, 64), Ledley, McCormack, Chopra, Bothroyd (Feeney, 80). Substitutes not used: Enckelman (gk), Hudson, Capaldi, Taiwo.

Referee: A D'Urso (Essex).