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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had challenged his Cardiff side to produce a performance fit for champions in this crunch relegation clash; they never threatened that level but were more than good enough to account for woeful Fulham.
Both sides may end up sliding through the trap door to the Championship at the season’s end, but at least Cardiff have reason for hope as captain Steven Caulker’s double, plus Sascha Riether’s own goal, gave Solskjaer just a second win from nine League games in charge.
The points had been up for grabs when Lewis Holtby turned in an equaliser to Caulker’s opener, but calamitous defending allowed the Bluebirds to score three in a game for the first time since they beat Manchester City back in August.
Cardiff City: The latest match picturesShow all 81 1 /81Cardiff City: The latest match pictures Cardiff City: The latest match pictures Cardiff 1 Chelsea 2 Chelsea teammates celebrate with Fernando Torres after his winning goal
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Cardiff City: The latest match pictures Cardiff 1 Chelsea 2 Fernando Torres scores the Blue's second to complete the turn around
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Cardiff City: The latest match pictures Cardiff 1 Chelsea 2 David Marshall fails to keep out Andre Schurrle's equaliser
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Cardiff City: The latest match pictures Cardiff 1 Chelsea 2 Cardiff teammates celebrate after Craig Bellamy's opener
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Cardiff City: The latest match pictures Cardiff 1 Chelsea 2 Craig Bellamy fires home the opening goal for the home side
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Cardiff City: The latest match pictures Newcastle 3 Cardiff 0 Fabio da Silva looks on as Cardiff's defeat confirms their relegation out of the Premier League
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Cardiff City: The latest match pictures Newcastle 3 Cardiff 0 Wilfried Zaha reflects after Cardiff are relegated
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Cardiff City: The latest match pictures Newcastle 3 Cardiff 0 Loic Remy doubles Newcastle's lead
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Cardiff City: The latest match pictures Newcastle 3 Cardiff 0 Newcastle fans hold up a banner during their final home game of the season
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Cardiff City: The latest match pictures Newcastle 3 Cardiff 0 Mathieu Debuchy is tackled by Peter Whittingham
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Cardiff City: The latest match pictures Newcastle 3 Cardiff 0 Newcastle players celebrate in a huddle after Shola Ameobi's opener
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Cardiff City: The latest match pictures Newcastle 3 Cardiff 0 Shola Ameobi heads in for Newcastle
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Cardiff City: The latest match pictures Sunderland 4 Cardiff 0 Connor Wickham celebrates after scoring his second and Sunderland's fourth goal of the afternoon
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Cardiff City: The latest match pictures Sunderland 4 Cardiff 0 Emanuele Giaccherini celebrates his goal
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Cardiff City: The latest match pictures Sunderland 4 Cardiff 0 Emanuele Giaccherini scores the home side's third of the day
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Cardiff City: The latest match pictures Sunderland 4 Cardiff 0 Fabio Borini scores from the penalty spot to put Sunderland two ahead
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Cardiff City: The latest match pictures Sunderland 4 Cardiff 0 Juan Cala walks off the pitch head in hands after being sent off
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Cardiff City: The latest match pictures Sunderland 4 Cardiff 0 Juan Cala tugs back Conner Wickham's arm and gives away a penalty
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Cardiff City: The latest match pictures Sunderland 4 Cardiff 0 Conner Wickham celebrates after scoring the Black Cat's opening goal
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Cardiff City: The latest match pictures Cardiff 1 Stoke 1 Peter Whittingham scores a penalty for Cardiff to draw them level
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Cardiff City: The latest match pictures Cardiff 1 Stoke 1 Marko Arnautovic sends goalkeeper David Marshall the wrong way as he puts Stoke ahead from the penalty spot
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Cardiff City: The latest match pictures Cardiff 1 Stoke 1 Referee Howard Webb awards a penalty to Stoke after a foul on Peter Odemwingie
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Cardiff City: The latest match pictures Cardiff 1 Stoke 1 Jordon Mutch takes a shot at goal with Steven N'Zonzi trying to block
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Cardiff City: The latest match pictures Cardiff 1 Stoke 0 Fraizer Campbell skips past the tackle from Glenn Whelan
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Cardiff City: The latest match pictures Southampton 0 Cardiff 1 Ole Gunnar Solskjaer the Cardiff manager celebrates following victory
Cardiff City: The latest match pictures Southampton 0 Cardiff 1 Juan Cala of Cardiff celebrates after scoring the opening goal
Cardiff City: The latest match pictures Southampton 0 Cardiff 1 Kim Bo-Kyung of Cardiff is challenged by Morgan Schneiderlin of Southampton
Cardiff City: The latest match pictures Cardiff 0 Crystal Palace 3 Jason Puncheon celebrates after scoring his second of the afternoon and making it 3-0 to Palace
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Cardiff City: The latest match pictures Cardiff 0 Crystal Palace 3 Joe Ledley makes it 2-0 to Palace
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Cardiff City: The latest match pictures Cardiff 0 Crystal Palace 3 Mile Jedinak holds off the challenge from Jordon Mutch
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Cardiff City: The latest match pictures Cardiff 0 Crystal Palace 3 Jason Puncheon celebrates his goal with his teammates
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Cardiff City: The latest match pictures Cardiff 0 Crystal Palace 3 Jason Puncheon fires home for Palace despite pressure from Cardiff defenders
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Cardiff City: The latest match pictures Cardiff 0 Crystal Palace 3 Yannick Bolasie and Jordon Mutch contest for the ball
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Cardiff City: The latest match pictures West Brom 3 Cardiff 3 Mats Moller Daehli saves a point for Cardiff in the last minute
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Cardiff City: The latest match pictures West Brom 3 Cardiff 3 Thievy Bifouma Koulossa puts the Baggies ahead late on
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Cardiff City: The latest match pictures West Brom 3 Cardiff 3 Steven Caulker celebrates in front of the away fans after he equalises for Cardiff
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Cardiff City: The latest match pictures West Brom 3 Cardiff 3 Graham Dorrans celebrates after scoring the Baggies' second
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Cardiff City: The latest match pictures West Brom 3 Cardiff 3 David Marshall can only look on as Morgan Amalfitano scores with a superb lob from 30 yards out
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Cardiff City: The latest match pictures Cardiff 3 Liverpool 6 Luis Suarez celebrates after completing his hat trick
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Cardiff City: The latest match pictures Cardiff 3 Liverpool 6 Daniel Sturridge scores Liverpool's fifth of the afternoon
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Cardiff City: The latest match pictures Cardiff 3 Liverpool 6 Martin Skrtel celebrates his second goal
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Cardiff City: The latest match pictures Everton 2 Cardiff 1 Seamus Coleman celebrates his late winner
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Cardiff City: The latest match pictures Everton 2 Cardiff 1 Seamus Coleman scores the winner late on for Everton
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Cardiff City: The latest match pictures Everton 2 Cardiff 1 Wilfried Zaha shots under pressure from John Stones
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Cardiff City: The latest match pictures Everton 2 Cardiff 1 Juan Cala equalises for Cardiff
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Cardiff City: The latest match pictures Everton 2 Cardiff 1 Gerard Deulofeu scores Everton's opening goal
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Cardiff City: The latest match pictures Cardiff 3 Fulham 1 Cardiff manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer celebrates his team's victory
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Cardiff City: The latest match pictures Cardiff 3 Fulham 1 Steve Sidwell reflects on a damaging defeat for Fulham
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Cardiff City: The latest match pictures Cardiff 3 Fulham 1 Sascha Riether's own goal rounds off Cardiff's 3-1 victory
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Cardiff City: The latest match pictures Cardiff 3 Fulham 1 Sascha Riether scores an own goal under pressure from several Cardiff players
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Cardiff City: The latest match pictures Cardiff 3 Fulham 1 Steven Caulker scores his second goal of the afternoon
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Cardiff City: The latest match pictures Cardiff 3 Fulham 1 Lewis Holtby scores for Fulham to level the game at one all
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Cardiff City: The latest match pictures Cardiff 3 Fulham 1 Steven Caulker celebrates after putting Cardiff ahead
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Cardiff City: The latest match pictures Cardiff 3 Fulham 1 Craig Noone skips over a sliding tackle from Brede Hangeland
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Cardiff City: The latest match pictures Cardiff 3 Fulham 1 Ashkan Dejagah holds off Fraizer Campbell
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Cardiff City: The latest match pictures Tottenham 1 Cardiff 0 A relieved Roberto Soldado opens the scoring
Cardiff City: The latest match pictures Cardiff 0 Hull 4 Cardiff's players reflect after Hull score their fourth goal
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Cardiff City: The latest match pictures Cardiff 0 Hull 4 Nikica Jelavic powers home for Hull
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Cardiff City: The latest match pictures Cardiff 0 Hull 4 Ahmed El Mohamady hold off Cardiff's Don Cowie
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Cardiff City: The latest match pictures Cardiff 0 Hull 4 Curtis Davies blocks an effort from Fraizer Campbell
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Cardiff City: The latest match pictures Cardiff 0 Hull 4 Craig Noone trickes his way past two Hull defenders
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Cardiff City: The latest match pictures Cardiff 0 Hull 4 Tom Huddelstone celebrates after opening the scoring for Hull against Cardiff
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Cardiff City: The latest match pictures Cardiff 1 Wigan 2 Cardiff and Wigan players line-up before kick-off to pay tribute to Sir Tom Finney prior to this FA Cup match
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Cardiff City: The latest match pictures Cardiff 1 Wigan 2 Wigan's Chris McCann celebrates after he gives the Latics the lead
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Cardiff City: The latest match pictures Cardiff 1 Wigan 2 But Ben Watson puts Wigan ahead once again with a fiercely hit free-kick to decide the match, much like he did in last year's final victory over Manchester City
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Cardiff City: The latest match pictures Cardiff 1 Wigan 2 Uwe Rosler celebrates Wigan's victory over Cardiff
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Cardiff City: The latest match pictures Cardiff 0 Aston Villa 0 Cardiff City stadium before kick off
Cardiff City: The latest match pictures Cardiff 0 Aston Villa 0 Cardiff fans before kick off
Cardiff City: The latest match pictures Cardiff 0 Aston Villa 0 Fabian Delph has a shot
Cardiff City: The latest match pictures Cardiff 0 Aston Villa 0 Zaha on the ball
Cardiff City: The latest match pictures Cardiff 0 Aston Villa 0 Fabian Delph takes a shot
Cardiff City: The latest match pictures Cardiff 0 Aston Villa 0 Gary Medel makes a tackle
Cardiff City: The latest match pictures Swansea 3 Cardiff 0 Wilfried Bony scores for Swansea in the 3-0 win over Cardiff
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Cardiff City: The latest match pictures Cardiff City 2 Norwich 1 Robert Snodgrass celebrates his goal
Cardiff City: The latest match pictures Cardiff City 2 Norwich 1 Gary Medel protests to the referee
Cardiff City: The latest match pictures Cardiff City 2 Norwich 1 Craig Bellamy celebrates his equaliser
Cardiff City: The latest match pictures Cardiff City 2 Norwich 1 Kenwyne Jones gives Cardiff the lead
Cardiff City: The latest match pictures Cardiff City 2 Norwich 1 Kenwyne Jones gives Cardiff the lead
Cardiff City: The latest match pictures Cardiff City 2 Norwich 1 Kenwyne Jones celebrates giving Cardiff the lead
Cardiff City: The latest match pictures Manchester United 2 Cardiff City 0 Robin van Persie wheels away after scoring against Cardiff City
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Cardiff City: The latest match pictures Manchester United 2 Cardiff City 0 Ole Gunnar Solskjaer pictured on his return to Old Trafford
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Not all of Cardiff’s transfer business, in August or January, has stood up to scrutiny, but the acquisition of Caulker from Tottenham for £9million has unquestionably been great business. The 22-year-old (below, celebrating with Craig Noone) was the rock at the heart of this victory, his calmness and composure belying his tender years.
His manager sees no reason why the England international should not be on the plane to Brazil after helping guide the Bluebirds to a win that moves them up to 18th place, below West Brom on goal difference.
Solskjaer said: “If he plays like this and chips in with the odd goal, he has to be in with a shout for the World Cup. He is a leader, very talented and he has a testing season, but he has come through it. He could have had an easy life at Spurs, but he chose Cardiff knowing it would be tough.”
On his side’s prospects of beating the drop he added: “We might not need 37 points to stay up, but that is still our target. It means a lot to everyone at the club. It’s not about one result it’s about a two month examination of their character. We have to stick together.”
Given the high stakes this was largely a nervy, scrappy affair with both sides mainly reduced to pot-shots from distance. It was dire viewing.
But Caulker eased the tension with Cardiff’s first League goal for 445 minutes right on half-time, diverting Craig Noone’s driven cross into the net from inside the six-yard box.
Fulham hit back through Holtby, after a better start to the second half, with the German turning in John Heitinga’s header from close range.
The visitors were level for just eight minutes. Jordon Mutch’s deep corner was headed in by Caulker, with Maarten Stekelenburg getting himself in a horrible muddle to make a hash of what should have been a regulation save.
Cardiff’s victory was wrapped up when the unfortunate Riether diverted the ball beyond Stekelenburg, after the keeper had blocked Mutch’s header.
Almost as alarming as Fulham’s plight – they are effectively five points from safety thanks to their awful goal difference – was the performance of £12m striker Konstantinos Mitroglou, who looks some way short of form and fitness on this showing.
The Fulham manager Felix Magath said: “He is not used to relegation fights, he played for the strongest team in Greece and it takes time to adjust. He is only used to scoring and winning but this is the Premier League and he will have to get used to it.”
Line-ups:
Cardiff City (4-1-3-2): Marshall; Fabio, Caulker, Turner (Théophile-Catherine, 90), John; Medel (Wolff Eikrem, 81), Mutch, Noone, Kim; Campbell (Daehli, 72), Jones.
Fulham (4-5-1): Stekelenburg; Riether, Heitinga, Hangeland, Richardson; Dejagah (Karagounis, 50), Sidwell, Holtby, Riise (Kacaniklic, 45), Woodrow (Bent, 76); Mitroglou.
Referee: Martin Atkinson.
Man of the match: Caulker (Cardiff)
Match rating: 6/10
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