Cardiff City down Barnsley to go top of the Championship

Cardiff City ended a run of three consecutive away defeats by beating Barnsley 2-1 at Oakwell to move back to the top of the Championship.

Joe Mason twice came close to a long-range opener for the Welsh outfit but was denied by Luke Steele on both occasions.

The second of those saves resulted in a Cardiff corner from which teenage defender Ben Nugent headed them into the lead with his first senior goal.

David Marshall maintained the visitors' advantage with a fine save from Jacob Mellis before the interval, while Marcus Tudgay also came close for Barnsley with a header that went just over the crossbar.

It was again a set-piece which undid Barnsley after the break as Aron Gunnarsson shook off marker Martin Cranie before heading in Peter Whittingham's delivery.

Persistent Tykes pressure in the second period was rewarded when Mellis applied a smart finish to Scott Wiseman's cross from the left.

They were given a boost in their search for an equaliser when Simon Lappin was dismissed for two bookings on his Cardiff debut, but Malky Mackay's side hung on to leapfrog Crystal Palace into top spot.