Paul McVeigh and Steve Jones scored the goals that should secure Burnley Coca-Cola Championship football next season and condemned Cardiff to a fourth successive defeat.

The Clarets, now past the 50-point mark, followed up morale-enhancing wins over Plymouth and Birmingham with another polished performance and deserved victory that will virtually banish any lingering relegation fears at Turf Moor.

It is a far cry from just over a week ago when Steve Cotterill's side had gone 19 games without a win, but three on the spin have proved a timely shot in the arm for the club's fortunes.

The livewire Jones broke the deadlock after just four minutes with an instinctive finish before McVeigh wrapped up the points from close range three minutes into the second half.

Defeat for City, meanwhile, has left them further adrift of the play-off pack and manager Dave Jones will be well aware his side need plenty of good fortune in the coming weeks if they are to clinch a top-six finish.

Burnley boss Cotterill opted to deploy the same starting line-up for the third game in a row and was instantly rewarded as his side capitalised on some suspect City defending to race into an early lead.

Michael Duff's throw-in level with the 18-yard box should have been hacked clear but instead Andy Gray pounced to prod the ball into the path of Jones and the winger steered a rasping drive across goalkeeper David Forde from just inside the penalty area.

It was the Northern Ireland international's second goal in as many home outings following his strike in the 4-0 win over Plymouth last Tuesday, and his fifth in total since joining from Crewe last summer.

The early goal set the tone for a frenetic opening as Peter Whittingham blazed over from 25 yards before Gray saw a looping header skid off the top of the crossbar after stooping to meet a deft Jones centre with 20 minutes played.

On the half-hour, Paul Parry's teasing corner was directed goal-bound by Roger Johnson but combative midfielder James O'Connor found himself in the right place to clear off the line as the first half petered out to an uneventful end.

City were again slow out of the blocks after the restart and the hosts doubled their advantage after 48 minutes.

Gray played a raking ball out wide to Wade Elliott on the right flank and his near-post cross was guided past Forde from six yards by the waiting McVeigh.

The on-loan Norwich striker should have had a second moments later in virtually a carbon-copy of the move that led to Burnley's second, however, this time Forde scrambled away McVeigh's effort.

City boss Jones introduced Steven Thompson, Darcy Blake and Matthew Green in a bid to bolster his toothless attack but they were continually denied by a dogged Burnley backline.

Michael Chopra's deflected 25-yard free kick wrong-footed goalkeeper Brian Jensen allowing Johnson to head home from close-range but his celebrations were cut short and Burnley recorded another priceless win.

Burnley (1) 2 Cardiff (0) 0

Burnley Jensen, Duff, Thomas, Caldwell, Harley,Elliott (Akinbiyi 87), Djemba-Djemba, James O'Connor, Jones,McVeigh (McCann 76), Gray (Spicer 90).

Subs Not Used: Coyne, Coughlan.

Booked: Jones, Gray, Harley, Thomas, Elliott.

Goals: Jones 4, McVeigh 48.

Cardiff Forde, McNaughton, Purse, Johnson, Ledley,Whittingham (Thompson 73), McPhail, Gunter, Parry (Blake 68),Chopra, Feeney (Green 56).

Subs Not Used: Alexander, Flood.

Att: 11,347

Ref: R Beeby (Northamptonshire).