Norwich leap-frogged their hosts thanks to a goal from former Cardiff hero Robert Earnshaw and in the process condemned the Bluebirds to their sixth straight defeat.

Wales international Earnshaw fired into the top-right corner in the 16th minute for his seventh goal for Norwich following Paul McVeigh's sliderule pass, beating Neil Alexander at his near post - making it a happy return to his homeland for the hitman known as "Ernie".

Cardiff had started the game brightly and Jason Koumas was first to threaten in the fifth minute, but his 25-yarder flew over Gallacher's crossbar.

Another chance materialised for the Bluebirds in the 12th minute when recalled full-back Chris Barker picked out Steven Thompson with a cross, but his header from the edge of the area was off target.

Top scorer Cameron Jerome tried his arm a couple of minutes later, but his shot from the right-hand side of the area again went over.

Stung by Earnshaw's goal, which had come against the run of play, Cardiff were straight back on the front foot, and the lively Koumas forced a good save from Paul Gallacher in the 20th minute with a powerful hit from the left edge of the area.

The pair resumed their duel on the half hour, but Gallacher again emerged triumphant, catching Koumas' rising drive from the right channel.

Gary Docherty almost doubled Norwich's lead five minutes before half-time, but nodded wide from 12 yards following Darren Huckerby's free-kick.

Nigel Worthington's men were looking comfortable as half-time arrived, but Cardiff came out firing and Jerome shot over from 25 yards seven minutes after the restart.

But it was the diminutive Earnshaw who forced the first save of the second period as his left-footed effort from the right side of the area was plucked from the air by the sprawling Alexander in the 59th minute.

McVeigh almost got on the scoresheet himself in the 67th minute, but he fired wide of the right-hand post from 18 yards.

Jerome and Thompson nodded wide within a minute of each other with 20 minutes remaining, as Dave Jones's Bluebirds tried to get themselves back into the match.

To compound 20-goal Jerome's woe, he hobbled off with a knock just a couple of minutes later, to be replaced by Kevin Cooper.

Both sides had half chances late on but could not make them count as the game tepidly petered out, to the dismay of the home support, leaving Norwich in eighth, with struggling Cardiff a place behind.

Teams:

Cardiff Alexander, Darlington, Barker (Jacobson 81), Cox,Loovens, Koumas, Scimeca, Parry, Ledley, Thompson,Jerome (Cooper 72).

Subs Not Used: Ndumbu-Nsungu, Margetson, Blake.

Booked: Koumas.

Norwich Gallacher, Drury, Shackell, Fleming, Doherty,Huckerby, Hughes, McVeigh (Henderson 90), Etuhu, Robinson,Earnshaw.

Subs Not Used: Johansson, Charlton, Ryan Jarvis, Lewis.

Booked: Shackell.

Goals: Earnshaw 16.

Att: 11,590

Ref: A Marriner (W Midlands).