Dave Jones endured a disappointing return to Molineux as his Cardiff side were put to the sword by Wolves in a battle of play-off rivals which was marred by serious crowd trouble at half-time.

Visiting fans clashed with police during the interval and as a result the second half was delayed by nearly 15 minutes.

The two sides were level on points just outside the top six at the outset but Wolves dominated the action and could have boasted more than the two goals from Denes Rosa and Kenny Miller.

The victory lifted Wanderers back into the top six, at the expense of Preston, and made it seven matches unbeaten for Glenn Hoddle's men while dealing a blow to the Bluebirds' own play-off hopes.

Cardiff boss Jones, returning to Molineux for the first time since his dismissal in November 2004, received a warm reception from the home crowd before kick-off but Wolves soon got straight down to business.

Captain Paul Ince had the first shot on target within the first two minutes but his 20-yard effort flew straight at Bluebirds keeper Neil Alexander.

A surging run from Lee Naylor resulted in Jeremie Aliadiere going close soon after with a shot from similar distance but Wolves' attacking pressure paid off in the 17th minute.

Aliadiere's dangerous cut-back across the six-yard box was gratefully side-footed home by Rosa, steaming in at the far post.

The advantage was nearly doubled as Alexander pulled off a brave save to deny the lively Aliadiere, who was played through by Tomasz Frankowski.

Jason Koumas had Cardiff's first real effort on goal on the half-hour but his strong run through the centre ended in a tame shot from outside the box which dribbled wide of Stefan Postma's goal.

Koumas' corner was then headed straight at Postma by Steven Thompson in the 35th minute before Ricardo Scimeca blasted Cameron Jerome's cross high over the crossbar.

Jeff Whitley was nearly gifted an equaliser seconds before the half-time whistle as Postma almost let his 25-yard shot escape his grasp but the Dutchman recovered before any onrushing attackers could capitalise.

Wolves were handed the chance to double their lead in the 52nd minute after Kenny Miller's through-ball led to Frankowski being brought down by Darren Purse inside the penalty area.

The Scotland international striker kept his cool to step up and fire the spot-kick home, sending Alexander the wrong way for his 10th goal of the season.

Jerome sent a weak header straight at Postma for Cardiff before a swift Wolves counter-attack in the 64th minute saw Miller fire over after Alexander could only parry Rohan Ricketts' fierce shot.

Aliadiere saw his bicycle kick from Frankowski's cross saved by Alexander with 15 minutes remaining, while Rob Edwards' header clipped the post as the home side looked to close out the game.

Cardiff posed little threat during the half with the Bluebirds dangerous strike pairing of Jerome and Thompson shackled by a home defence marshalled superbly by Joleon Lescott.

Teams

Wolverhampton Postma, Edwards, Lescott, Gyepes, Naylor,Ricketts, Ince, Rosa (Davies 66), Frankowski, Aliadiere, Miller.

Subs Not Used: Oakes, Ross, Seol, Cort.

Booked: Rosa.

Goals: Rosa 15, Miller 54 pen.

Cardiff Alexander, Ardley (Weston 77), Purse, Cox, Barker,Koumas, Scimeca, Whitley (Cooper 62), Ledley,Thompson (Ndumbu-Nsungu 86), Jerome.

Subs Not Used: Margetson, Loovens.

Booked: Koumas, Cox, Purse.

Att: 23,996

Ref: G Salisbury (Lancashire).