Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's first-half strike ensured Cardiff came away with all three points against strugglers Sheffield Wednesday at Ninian Park.

Hasselbaink was on hand to finish off Gavin Rae's finely-crafted pass in the 35th minute to propel Dave Jones' side up to ninth in the Coca-Cola Championship table, leaving Sheffield Wednesday languishing just one point above the relegation zone.

Bluebirds fans have witnessed a dramatic turnaround in fortunes recently, and a run of five games unbeaten has seen them climb into the top half of the table.

Manager Dave Jones gave new loan signing Peter Enckelman a place on the bench as veteran Michael Oakes continued in goal for the home side, while Hasselbaink returned to the starting line-up after being rested against Chasetown in the FA Cup.

Owls boss Brian Laws made two changes to the side that earned an FA Cup replay with a battling draw at Derby - Leon Clarke and Steve Watson coming in for Francis Jeffers and Jermaine Johnson, while new boy Ronnie Wallwork warmed the bench.

True to form, the home team flew out of the blocks.

There were only four minutes on the clock when Peter Whittingham fired in a shot that had Owls goalkeeper Lee Grant sprawling - and further shots from Hasselbaink and Stephen McPhail set a frantic early pace.

However, Laws' team began to settle - and Clarke's ferocious drive had Oakes at full stretch to tip the ball around the post.

Cardiff then replied with some heavy pressure and were unlucky not to open the scoring when centre-back Roger Johnson hit the post from Whittingham's corner.

But they did grab the lead two minutes later when Hasselbaink used all his predatory instincts to latch on to Rae's through-ball, before firing home to give his side a 35th-minute lead.

Such is the desire at Ninian Park at the moment, the Bluebirds did not want to settle for a one-goal advantage at the break and pushed for a second - but shots from Whittingham and in-form winger Joe Ledley proved fruitless.

Laws introduced Wallwork after the interval in a bid to bring his side back into the game but the second period began in cagey fashion.

Five minutes after the restart Glenn Loovens came agonisingly close to doubling the home side's lead as he towered above the Owls defence but his header cannoned back off the post.

Cardiff's aerial threat troubled the visitors all day as Paul Parry out-jumped his marker before seeing his header saved by Grant.

But the visitors refused to give up and, with just a one-goal deficit, there was still all to play for in the final 20 minutes of the game.

And it was almost a dream debut for Wallwork but his 73rd-minute header was clawed out from underneath the crossbar by Oakes to keep the score 1-0.

That effort seemed to give the visitors confidence and they pressed for a late equaliser. Substitute Deon Burton looked the most likely to level the game as his first effort at goal flew wide of the left-hand post.

But it was not to be for the Owls as Cardiff hung on for their third consecutive league win.

Teams:

Cardiff Oakes, McNaughton, Capaldi, Loovens, Johnson, Rae,Whittingham, McPhail, Ledley, Parry, Hasselbaink (Thompson 79).

Subs Not Used: Enckelman, Purse, MacLean, Ramsey.

Booked: Loovens.

Goals: Hasselbaink 36.

Sheff Wed Grant, Bullen, Hinds, Beevers, Spurr, Whelan,O'Brien, Esajas (Johnson 40), Watson (Wallwork 46), Tudgay,Clarke (Burton 75).

Subs Not Used: Wood, Small.

Booked: Hinds.

Att: 14,015

Ref: Andy Woolmer (Northamptonshire).