Cardiff climbed up to third in the Championship thanks to a 2-0 victory over promotion rivals West Brom at The Hawthorns.
Burke and Whittingham score for Bluebirds, while Carson sees red for Baggies
Cardiff climbed up to third in the Championship thanks to a 2-0 victory over promotion rivals West Brom at The Hawthorns.
Chris Burke netted for the Bluebirds in the 18th minute, although he was helped by a hesitant Baggies rearguard who failed to challenge his roaming run.
Albion keeper Scott Carson then received his marching orders for violent conduct in the 82nd minute after inexplicably head-butting Michael Chopra after going face-to-face with the striker.
Peter Whittingham saw his penalty saved by substitute goalkeeper Dean Kiely but then scored on the rebound with five minutes to go to seal Cardiff's first win at The Hawthorns since 1957 and close the gap on the second placed Baggies to five points.
It was a bad night for Albion who lost their six-match unbeaten run, while it was a second successive triumph for Cardiff after a run of three straight defeats, taking them up to third in the table on goal difference.
Soon after the start, in-form Albion midfielder Graham Dorrans stung the fingertips of David Marshall as the rain came down.
But Cardiff had not come to the Black Country to sit back and both Kelvin Etuhu and Burke lashed efforts narrowly over the bar inside the opening 10 minutes.
Free-flowing
Marshall then saved well at the feet of Roman Bednar with a free-flowing encounter going from end to end, and it was Carson's turn to get involved in the action shortly after as he tipped Gavin Rae's well-hit strike over the bar.
Cardiff were starting to dominate matters in the middle of the park and it was no surprise when Burke drilled them in front.
However Baggies manager Roberto Di Matteo will have been furious with the way in which his defenders backed off, allowing Burke to run 20 yards or more unchallenged before firing into the bottom corner.
Although the chances dried up as the half wore on, the visitors were still looking the more likely to score with the ring-rusty Bednar and Simon Cox getting little change out of Anthony Gerrard and Mark Hudson.
Albion did enjoy a period of pressure prior to the interval but it was Cardiff who went into half-time with their noses in front.
But it was Albion who started the stronger after the break and Bednar found himself with a great chance to level matters in the 49th minute when he worked free of his marker in the penalty area and was found by Cox.
Chance gone
But, not for the first time, the Czech Republic international's touch let him down and the chance was gone.
Dorrans then flashed an effort inches wide of Marshall's left-hand post but the early impetus at the start of the half was soon lost.
But Chris Brunt did see a low effort go close as the game approached the 70-minute mark, although Cardiff were still looking comfortable without even testing Carson in the slightest at the opposite end.
But the England keeper was firmly in the middle of things in the final eight minutes as he saw red following a 50/50 challenge with Chopra, leaving Whittingham to wrap up the points.
