Lennie Lawrence's Cardiff eased their relegation worries with a comprehensive win over fellow strugglers Nottingham Forest at Ninian Park.

Two second-half goals by Peter Thorne and one from Graham Kavanagh, plus the late sending-off of Jon Heldje, added up to a miserable afternoon for Mick Harford's Forest side.

Cardiff dominated the game from the outset, with Forest having to repel a series of determined attacks in the opening minutes.

The home side's midfield swarmed all over the pitch, allowing Forest no time at all to settle.

The first clear chance of the game fell to Cardiff's busy midfielder Joel McAnuff in the 18th minute, but his well-struck 25-yard strike was blocked by John Thompson.

McAnuff had another opportunity a few minutes later when Cameron Jerome took advantage of Thompson's slip and fed the midfielder with a fine pass. However, McAnuff scuffed his first shot, and his second effort was well saved by Paul Gerrard in the Forest goal.

Graham Kavanagh went close to opening the scoring for the home side but his long-range shot was again blocked by Thompson.

Cardiff continued to play some cultured football with Welsh international defender Danny Gabbidon instrumental in starting many of their most threatening moves.

Forest almost took a surprise lead when Andy Reid hit a magnificent shot which Tony Warner did well to keep out.

McAnuff really should have scored 10 minutes before half-time when Gerrard flapped at a cross and parried the ball into the midfielder's path, only for him to slice the ball wide with the goal at his mercy.

Harford brought on David Johnson at half-time in place of the ineffective Neil Harris in an forlorn attempt to sharpen Forest's attacking options.

The opening goal came after 55 minutes when Thompson needlessly brought down Jerome inside the Forest area after a poor clearance by Gerrard.

Thorne stepped up to take the spot-kick and coolly slotted the ball past Gerrard, to the delight of the Ninian Park faithful.

Thorne almost made it 2-0 after 64 minutes when he manufactured a shot under pressure from two Forest defenders, but Gerrard made a fine save going down to his left and parrying the ball away.

Johnson almost equalised for Forest moments later after he followed up a blocked shot by Andy Reid with a fine strike, but his shot was deflected behind for a corner.

However, Cardiff continued to dominate until the 85th minute when Thorne struck his second when he scrambled the ball home from close range after a fine cross by Kavanagh.

Forest's misery was further compounded when Hjelde was shown a straight red card for kicking Jerome in the face with two minutes left, before Kavanagh struck deep into injury time with a fine left-footed strike.

Teams:

Cardiff Warner, Weston, Gabbidon, Collins, Barker, Kavanagh, Langley, McAnuff, Inamoto (Parry 76), Thorne, Jerome (Lee 89), Parry (Vidmar 82).

Subs Not Used: Bullock, Alexander.

Booked: Langley.

Goals: Thorne 55 pen, 86, Kavanagh 90.

Nottm Forest Gerrard, Thompson (Louis-Jean 75), Doig, Hjelde, Morgan, Bopp, Derry, Reid, Rogers (King 62), Taylor, Harris (Johnson 45).

Subs Not Used: Doyle, Robertson.

Sent Off: Hjelde (88).

Booked: Morgan, Thompson, Derry, Louis-Jean.

Att: 13,545

Ref: P Crossley (Kent).