Norwich boss Glenn Roeder thanked Sven-Goran Eriksson for loaning him matchwinner Ched Evans, whose double sank play-off hopefuls Cardiff at Ninian Park.

The Manchester City striker and Wales Under-21 international fired the Canaries ahead in the 15th minute and grabbed a winner two minutes from time after Gavin Rae had equalised for Cardiff on the stroke of half-time.

"I am extremely grateful to Sven for letting him come to us and I know he will go back to Manchester City a far better player," said Roeder.

"He must love playing at Ninian Park as the last time he came here for Wales he scored a hat trick against France Under-21s.

"We had played well in the first half but invited them back into the game and the players were very disappointed at the interval.

"We regained our composure very quickly and won the match with a strike as good as you will see anywhere and it was no fluke as I have seen him doing that many times in training."

Cardiff boss Dave Jones was disappointed with his side's showing.

"It was a difficult game and the defences cancelled each other out," he said.

"We had worked so hard to get back into the match and it was very frustrating to end up with nothing.

"We didn't get going for the opening half an hour but it looked like a draw until that late wonder strike.

"There was nothing on for the lad but he took a chance and it came off for him.

"There is little to choose between most of the clubs in this division but today they had that little bit of luck you need to succeed.

"The coming week is a big one for us and we must bounce straight back."

Norwich looked sharper straight from the opening whistle and with Darel Russell bossing midfield they had the lion's share of the ball.

The opening goal came after a run and cross from the left by Ryan Bertrand.

Cardiff defence failed to get any distance with their clearance and the ball arrived on the edge of the penalty area where Evans was waiting.

He controlled the ball before deftly dispatching it into the corner of the net for the goal the visitors fully deserved.

Cardiff lived off scraps for the rest of the half yet went in at the break all square thanks to former-Rangers midfielder Rae.

Canaries defender Matthew Bates was caught in possession by Joe Ledley who raced towards goal before slipping a pass sideways to Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.

The veteran quickly moved it on to Rae whose shot beat two defenders before nestling in the back of the net.

The goal seemed to give Cardiff belief in the second half and it was a much more even contest but with time running out and both sides seeming to settle for a point up stepped Evans.

He took possession just inside the Cardiff half and after taking a couple of paces unleashed an unstoppable shot from fully 35-yards that hit into the back of the net before Bluebirds keeper Michael Oakes could move.

For Cardiff it was a first home defeat after five straight victories but Norwich's fine form goes on and they have now gone 12 league matches since tasting defeat.