Cardiff kept their automatic promotion hopes alive after Ross McCormack's late double gave them a dramatic win over Burnley at Ninian Park.

The Bluebirds took the lead with 74 minutes gone when McCormack headed into the path of Jay Bothroyd who shrugged off Steven Caldwell before smashing in a first-time shot.

However, Cardiff defender Darren Purse gifted Burnley an equaliser six minutes from time when his poor back pass went straight to Robbie Blake who finished well.

McCormack, so often Cardiff's hero this season, restored their lead barely 60 seconds later with a fine finish from Bothroyd's flick-on.

In the dying moments the Scot capped yet another fantastic display when he received the ball on the break before jinking past his marker and firing beyond Brian Jensen.

Purse was in the Cardiff side in place of Roger Johnson who was released from hospital on Monday morning following the injury he sustained in the tempestuous clash with Crystal Palace at the weekend.

Burnley boss Owen Coyle, meanwhile, kept faith with the same side that beat QPR 1-0 as the Clarets looked to extend their unbeaten run to seven matches.

The visitors made a bright start to the match and Jay Rodriguez tried his luck from the edge of the area but dragged the shot wide.

Cardiff gradually began to exert their authority on the match with McCormack's free-kick picking out Bothroyd who headed wide.

With 20 minutes gone Burnley almost went in front when Blake's free-kick found Clarke Carlisle six yards out, but the defender nodded over the crossbar.

Coyle would have been pleased with his side, who were stroking the ball about in confident fashion, and Chris Eagles' 30-yard drive was saved by Cardiff goalkeeper Stuart Taylor.

However, the home side had their best spell just before half-time and Bothroyd saw a header tipped round the post by Jensen before the Burnley keeper denied McCormack.

The second half began in tentative fashion and McCormack tried his luck from 20 yards but skied the shot out of the stadium.

Cardiff looked more likely to break the deadlock and Carlisle's header fell kindly for Bothroyd who lashed straight at Jensen.

In the 74th minute the home side made the breakthrough when the impressive McCormack flicked the ball on for Bothroyd who hammered in his 12th goal of the season.

Burnley responded well and Blake came close to drawing them level when his cross looked to be creeping in at the far post but went just wide.

With six minutes remaining the visitors were level when Purse's back pass was intercepted by Blake and he rolled past Taylor.

The visiting fans had barely enough time to celebrate before Bothroyd flicked the ball into the path of McCormack who restored Cardiff's lead.

McCormack grabbed his 23rd goal of the season to ensure his side would end the day four points behind second-placed Birmingham.

Teams

Cardiff Taylor, McNaughton, Purse, Gyepes, Kennedy, Ledley,McPhail, Rae, McCormack, Bothroyd (Eddie Johnson 86),Chopra (Whittingham 64).

Subs Not Used: Heaton, Comminges, Burke.

Booked: Kennedy.

Goals: Bothroyd 74, McCormack 85, 90.

Burnley Jensen, Alexander (Gudjonsson 73), Carlisle, Caldwell,Williams, Kalvenes, Elliott, McCann, Eagles,Rodriguez (Duff 87), Blake.

Subs Not Used: Penny, McDonald, MacDonald.

Booked: Kalvenes, Carlisle, Elliott, Williams.

Goals: Blake 84.

Att: 19,379

Ref: Lee Probert (Wiltshire).