A goalkeeping mistake by Plymouth's Romain Larrieu gifted Cardiff three points at Home Park as Steven Thompson's header settled a 1-0 win that keeps the Bluebirds' play-off hopes alive.

Larrieu looked to have made a comfortable save when Thompson struck in the 33rd minute but the Frenchman's grip let him down and Cardiff were ahead.

There was little to choose between the two sides throughout the contest but Plymouth failed to capitalise on the many chances that came their way.

A jinking run from Micky Evans might have brought the first goal inside the second minute of the game, but the Argyle striker snatched at his shot and fired wide of the post from 10 yards.

Cardiff countered and Riccardo Scimeca tried his luck from 20 yards, only to see the ball dip just over the crossbar.

Moments later, Cameron Jerome was guilty of a glaring miss when the ball fell to him just three yards from goal and, instead of applying a straightforward finish, he opted for a cheeky side-footed nudge, which trickled into the arms of grateful Larrieu.

Argyle then squandered a golden chance of their own, when Vincent Pericard ghosted into the area and connected with Tony Capaldi's cross to the near post but his finish lacked power and sent the ball wide.

Larrieu was kept on his toes as Jerome sent a header towards goal from 12 yards but the Frenchman dealt with it comfortably, before making another good save from Kevin Cooper's audacious 25-yard effort.

But it was an error from Larrieu that allowed Cardiff to take the lead, when Jerome's cross was met by a tame downwards header from Thompson that slipped through the goalkeeper's gloves and into the bottom corner of the net.

Argyle were inches away from restoring parity shortly before half-time, when Capaldi's inswinging corner was met by a shot from Mathias Doumbe that clanged against a post before Neil Ardley cleared the danger.

Jerome's struggle to find the net continued after the break as he screwed a shot wide from 12 yards with only Larrieu to beat.

Plymouth then enjoyed their best spell of pressure as Paul Wotton smashed a free-kick into the Cardiff wall and the ball bounced out for a corner.

Capaldi's inswinging corner found Lilian Nalis charging into the area and his header would have levelled the scores had it's accuracy matched it's power.

Plymouth manager Tony Pulis sent on Bojan Djordjic and Chris Zebroski in an attempt to invigorate his side's attacking play and the home side continued to press.

A desperate piece of defending from Glenn Loovens gave Argyle a corner and Djordjic's header from Capaldi's ball into the box was narrowly wide.

At the other end, Larrieu, eager to make amends for his earlier mistake, pulled off a superb diving save to tip Jerome's 20-yard drive round the post, before making another smart save when Cooper pulled sent a rocket towards the top corner from 30 yards.

Djordjic frittered away the final chance for Argyle to share the spoils when he blasted over the crossbar from 12 yards.

Teams

Plymouth Larrieu, Connolly (Buzsaky 80), Doumbe, Aljofree,Hodges (Djordjic 64), Norris, Wotton, Nalis, Capaldi,Evans (Zebroski 66), Pericard.

Subs Not Used: Barness, McCormick.

Booked: Doumbe.

Cardiff Alexander, Ardley, Purse, Loovens, Barker, Koumas,Ledley, Scimeca, Cooper, Jerome (Ndumbu-Nsungu 90), Thompson.

Subs Not Used: Whitley, Cox, Weston, Worgan.

Booked: Purse, Ledley, Cooper, Jerome, Loovens.

Goals: Thompson 34.

Att: 13,494

Ref: R Olivier (W Midlands).