Three goals in five second-half minutes saw Cardiff to a comfortable victory which boosted their play-off hopes.

The impressive Steven Thompson struck twice with a Jason Koumas header wrapping up the points.

Cardiff had shaded an entertaining opening 45 minutes but were unable to make their territorial advantage count against a resilient Burnley rearguard before half-time.

The home side made a promising start as they won two free-kicks and a corner inside the opening five minutes.

But Burnley, like Cardiff just outside the play-off places at the start of play, held firm.

A series of niggling fouls disrupted the early stages but it was Cardiff who continued to look the more threatening as the game opened up.

Burnley keeper Brian Jensen had to be on his toes to cut out a teasing cross from Chris Barker as the home side sought to make their early superiority count.

But it was Burnley who had the first effort on goal after 10 minutes, Ade Akinbiyi sending his 18-yard shot wide of the upright.

The home side threatened just a minute later with Jensen keeping out Thompson's header after he had got on the end of a Koumas free-kick.

As play continued to switch from end to end, Burnley carved out another opportunity after 20 minutes when Neil Alexander in the Cardiff goal did well to save Jon Harley's fiercely-struck 20-yard shot.

Akinbiyi was the first player to be booked after 27 minutes following a foul on Darren Purse.

Thompson had another chance for Cardiff nine minutes before the interval but fired an 18-yard shot wide of Jensen's goal.

Burnley's Frank Sinclair then cleared Neal Ardley's corner to the near post moments before the interval.

Burnley threatened early in the second half with Micah Hyde's right-footed shot from 20 yards clearing the crossbar and they had another chance after 51 minutes but Akinbiyi fired his shot a fraction too high.

The visitors continued to impress as they pushed for the opener, but it was Cardiff who almost snatched the lead after 55 minutes.

Ardley's pin-point free-kick found Thompson whose header from just six yards was somehow tipped around the post by Jensen.

But Cardiff did not have long to wait with the impressive Thompson firing home just three minutes later from Willie Boland's cross.

With Burnley still attempting to recover from that setback the home side then doubled their advantage with Thompson notching his second of the game after being put in by Cameron Jerome.

And any hopes the visitors harboured of getting back into the game were extinguished after 63 minutes as Cardiff made it 3-0.

Ardley crossed into the penalty area and Koumas headed home to put his side firmly in the driving seat.

Teams:

Cardiff Alexander, Weston, Purse (Cooper 84), Cox, Barker, Ardley, Boland, Ledley, Koumas (Ndumbu-Nsungu 90), Thompson (Scimeca 77), Jerome.

Subs Not Used: Mulryne, Margetson.

Booked: Boland.

Goals: Thompson 58, 60, Koumas 63.

Burnley Jensen, Thomas, McGreal, Sinclair, Harley, James O'Connor, Hyde, Garreth O'Connor (Noel-Williams 65), McCann (Branch 65), Elliott (Spicer 90), Akinbiyi.

Subs Not Used: Duff, Grant.

Booked: Akinbiyi, McGreal.

Att: 10,872

Ref: D Drysdale (Lincolnshire).