Second-half goals from Jon Walters and Jon Stead gave Town a first away win of the season as Blues made it seven games unbeaten.

Peter Whittingham gave Cardiff the lead with a sublime volley just past the half hour mark but Roy Keane's side had already wasted three great chances before Walters finished superbly from the edge of the area on 72 minutes.

Substitute Stead gave Blues the points with a deflected effort five minutes from time as Town came from behind to win for the first time in seven months.

Stern John made his debut for Town after arriving on loan from Crystal Palace, while Arran Lee-Barrett also made his first appearance for the Club following a knee injury to Richard Wright that could well see Blues have to go into the loan market again with Asmir Begovic now back at Portsmouth after his loan stay was cut short.

Town should have been ahead inside the first three minutes when Carlos Edwards found Walters with a terrific cross but the skipper headed over from six yards.

Tamas Priskin had a volley blocked by Gabor Gyepes before Whittingham smashed a shot against the bar after Bothroyd set him up.

John was booked for a challenge on Gyepes, then Whittingham was denied by the woodwork again after Wright got his fingertips to the shot to divert it on to the bar.

Wright was called into action again to stop the lively Michael Chopra but the 'keeper suffered what looked like a knee injury and was replaced by Lee-Barrett soon after.

John and Priskin got in each other's way when a goal looked on from Grant Leadbitter's excellent free-kick on the half hour mark but five minutes later Cardiff were ahead, Bothroyd flicking the ball on and Whittingham volleying superbly past Lee-Barrett into the top corner.

Town should have been level a minute later though, John bursting through on a one on one but David Marshall did enough to keep out the Trinidad international's effort.

The 'keeper received lengthy treatment before Owen Garvan could take the resultant corner and Cardiff were forced to make a change at the break, Peter Enckelman replacing Marshall in goal.

Priskin made way for Stead seven minutes into the second-half, the striker catching Adam Matthews with a late challenge within seconds of his arrival, then testing Enckelman with a drive.

Town made a third change midway through the half with Alan Quinn replacing Edwards, the Irishman moving into the middle of park with Garvan moving to the left.

Blues were back on level terms and deservedly so 18 minutes from time, Quinn and Garvan linking up well and Walters finished off the move brilliantly with a terrific right foot strike to leave Enckelman with no chance.

Cardiff made a second change with Kelvin Etuhu on for Chris Burke for the final quarter hour, Damien Delaney then booked for a foul on Chopra. Bothroyd headed in from the free-kick but not before the offside flag was raised.

Enckelman saved from Stead, then gathered from Gareth McAuley as Town looked the more likely to grab a second goal.

Garvan became the third Blue to pick up a booking, the midfielder penalised for kicking the ball away but five minutes from time Town struck, Quinn again involved and Stead's effort at the near post was deflected in.

Cardiff immediately made a third change, Ross McCormack on for Gavin Rae as the home fans vented their frustrations with boos ringing out at the final whistle - but not from the Town faithful who were rewarded for the long journey to south Wales.

Cardiff: Marshall (Enckelman 46), Kennedy, Hudson, Gyepes, Matthews, Burke (Etuhu 75), Rae (McCormack 86), Ledley, Whittingham, Bothroyd, Chopra. Subs not used: Taiwo, Gerrard, Scimeca, Quinn.

Town: R.Wright (Lee-Barrett 22), Rosenior, McAuley, Delaney, D.Wright, Edwards (Quinn 66), Leadbitter, Garvan, Walters, John, Priskin (Stead 52). Subs not used: Martin, Colback, Peters, Smith. Booked: John, Delaney, Garvan.

Att: 19,463