Cardiff struck twice in the first 10 minutes through Joe Ledley and Cameron Jerome as they claimed a comfortable 2-1 win over an out-of-sorts Southampton side.

Ledley and Jerome netted after six and nine minutes respectively to give the Bluebirds an ideal start, but the home side's dominance faded as Dexter Blackstock's 25th-minute finish and a gradual improvement from Saints left the match more closely poised at half-time.

But City regained their composure in the second half and ran out comfortable winners as the visitors' attack proved toothless in the quest for an equaliser.

Jerome might have given Cardiff the lead after two minutes when he latched onto a flick-on by Michael Ricketts but saw his shot ricochet off Matthew Mills and out for a corner.

The breakthrough arrived three minutes later, when on-loan midfielder Jason Koumas rode two tackles superbly and slotted through to Jerome, who played a simple knock back, allowing Ledley to slot the ball into the net with a low drive.

The same trio of players combined to double Cardiff's lead after nine minutes, when Koumas fed Ledley on the edge of the area, the midfielder evaded a challenge and squared to Jerome, who lashed the ball home from 12 yards out.

Finding themselves two goals down after just 10 minutes, Saints began to come to life and Rory Delap stung the palms of Bluebirds goalkeeper Neil Alexander with a 30-yard shot and young star Theo Walcott blazed over the crossbar before George Burley's men pulled one back.

The move began with a long ball from goalkeeper Antti Niemi, which caught Alexander floundering as it bounced inside the box and Blackstock took advantage, grabbing his second goal of the season with a cool, low finish.

The first half ended with the visitors very much in the ascendancy but the break seemed to dampen their momentum.

Cardiff went straight onto the attack in the second half and Paul Parry went close with a 20-yard shot which flew over the crossbar.

As the hour mark passed, Cardiff won a pair of corners in quick succession and Ledley should have netted his second of the afternoon but misdirected his header.

Another chance to put the result beyond doubt presented itself to Ledley with 12 minutes remaining but, as the ball dropped to him six yards from goal, he snatched at his shot and blazed over the bar.

The contest looked to be petering out quietly until Koumas went clean through on goal in the last minute and was brought down, prompting furious claims for a penalty.

The appeals were waved away but, moments later, so were Southampton's hopes of a point as the final whistle blew.

Teams

Cardiff Alexander, Loovens, Ardley, Cox, Barker, Whitley, Koumas, Ledley, Parry, Jerome, Ricketts (Lee 77).

Subs Not Used: Darlington, Cooper, Ferretti, Margetson.

Booked: Cox.

Goals: Ledley 6, Jerome 9.

Southampton Niemi, Delap, Kenton, Mills, Cranie, McCann, Prutton, Baird, Jones (Ormerod 72), Blackstock, Walcott.

Subs Not Used: Belmadi, Smith, Folly, Best.

Booked: Kenton, Baird.

Goals: Blackstock 25.

Att: 13,377

Ref: C Foy (Merseyside).