Cardiff 1-0 Ipswich

Paul Parry struck the wonder goal that sent relief flowing through Ninian Park.

And nobody appreciated his strike more than manager Dave Jones.

For a goal fit to win any game has probably saved Jones's job.

Defeat yesterday would have left his head on the block when they travel to Leicester tomorrow.

Instead, this victory, only their second in the last dozen games, will at least give him some welcome breathing space.

Jones was clearly relieved as he said: "There was a lot of hurt and anger in our squad after the past few weeks.

"They have had to suffer a lot of negativity. But if you have to reach to the very bottom of the pit, it can make you stronger."

Ipswich boss Jim Magilton, meanwhile, could only scratch his head after a subdued performance by his inform side.

Ipswich may be unbeatable on their own patch, but they are still to win away after nine games.

Magilton said: "I can't put my finger on what's going wrong but it's very disappointing.

"Cardiff bullied us in the first half and after that we still didn't really create anything."

On an afternoon racked with tension, Cardiff's nerves were jangling inside 20 seconds when skipper Darren Purse missed an attempted back-header.

Instead it left Irishman Alan Lee with a clear run on goal.

As Kasper Schmeichel raced despairingly off his line, Lee deftly lifted the ball over him - only to see it rebound to safety off the bar.

The whole of Ninian Park had shuddered along with that crossbar. But it was the break Cardiff needed.

Just after the halfhour, Parry lifted Cardiff's fans as he struck a goal that would have graced any arena.

Steve Thompson's clever back-heel gave Gavin Rae the chance to surge through from midfield.

The Scot swept the ball wide to Parry and the Welsh international cut inside, weaved his way past Dan Harding and left Neil Alexander helpless with a curling drive inside the far post.

Ipswich, barely at the races in the first half, did at least lift themselves after the break.

And five minutes from time Parry was Cardiff's saviour again. This time he was on his own line to stretch out a leg to deny Tommy Miller.

Ken Gorman (Sunday Mirror)