Michael Chopra put his winter goal drought behind him and pushed Cardiff back into the play-off places with a hat-trick in a 3-2 Coca-Cola Championship win over Leicester.

The 23-year-old had scored just two goals in his previous 16 outings before crashing home three inside 50 minutes to give Cardiff boss Dave Jones a win in his 500th game as a manager.

Leicester pulled one back through Patrick Kisnorbo and attempted a last-ditch comeback when Elvis Hammond scored late on, but it was too little, too late for Rob Kelly's men, who are sliding towards the Championship relegation places as they wait for Milan Mandaric to complete his propsed takeover at the Walkers Stadium.

The game began with a distinct lack of urgency from either side, but Peter Whittingham almost caught Leicester off-guard when he was teed up by Paul Parry for a fizzing 25-yard shot which Paul Henderson tipped round the post at full stretch.

The crowd sensed a contest emerging as play swung back to the Cardiff penalty area and Leicester won a corner.

Williams' set-piece found Gareth McAuley, who executed a finely-struck right-footed volley but lacked accuracy with his shot.

Back came Cardiff in search of an opener and a clash of heads between Stephen Hughes and Riccardo Scimeca saw the home side awarded a free-kick.

Up stepped Chopra to float the ball over Leicester's wall and beyond goalkeeper Paul Henderson, into the top corner of the net for 1-0.

Cardiff then got into their stride and began to dominate the game from midfield, with Scimeca and Parry combining well to ensure the bulk of possession belonged to the home side.

But, with his side beginning to look comfortable, Jones was dealt a blow when Scimeca limped off injured with 10 minutes remaining in the first half, to be replaced by Kevin McNaughton.

The Foxes' hopes of snatching a goal on the break were hit by an injury to striker Matty Fryatt and Hammond replaced him for the last few moments of the first half, which saw Thompson draw a comfortable save from Henderson with a left-footed shot from 20 yards and Chopra lift an effort over the crossbar from similar range.

Leicester came out guns blazing after the break and Iain Hume blazed over the bar and wide with a pair of shots, both from around 12 yards.

The Foxes striker was left to rue his misses when Joe Ledley's slide-rule pass picked out the run of Chopra perfectly and the Cardiff hitman lifted the ball over Henderson and watched it roll into the net for 2-0.

Chopra banished all memories of a difficult few months in front of goal when he netted a simple third and completed his hat-trick.

Thompson picked up a loose ball on the edge of the box and Henderson made the mistake of rushing off his line, allowing Chopra an open net to score into when the ball was squared to him.

Leicester restored some pride and kept the game alive by hitting straight back, when Williams' run and cross from the left won a corner.

Williams took it himself and found the head of Kisnorbo, who powered the ball down into the corner from six yards out.

Just as Cardiff looked to play out the final minutes, Hammond connected with Andy Johnson's pass into the box and beat goalkeeper Neil Alexander with a cool right-footed finish, but there was to be no late turnaround for the Foxes.

Teams

Cardiff Alexander, Gilbert, Loovens, Johnson, Ledley,Whittingham (Flood 75), McPhail, Parry,Scimeca (McNaughton 35), Chopra, Thompson (Byrne 90).

Subs Not Used: Forde, Campbell.

Booked: Johnson.

Goals: Chopra 21, 57, 69.

Leicester Henderson, Maybury, Kisnorbo, McCarthy, McAuley,Hughes, Williams, Wesolowski (Johnson 46),Porter (Cadamarteri 79), Hume, Fryatt (Hammond 44).

Subs Not Used: Logan, Stearman.

Booked: Kisnorbo, Hume.

Goals: Kisnorbo 71, Hammond 89.

Att: 12,057

Ref: K Stroud (Hampshire).