Cardiff kept their play-off hopes alive and extended Stoke's winless streak to eight games with a comprehensive Coca-Cola Championship win at Ninian Park.

Goals from Kevin Cooper and a brace by veteran defender Neil Cox saw the Bluebirds maintain their impressive home form this term as Dave Jones' side completed a league double over the Potters.

Midfielder Cooper opened the scoring with a brilliant individual effort in the 18th minute.

He picked the ball up on the touchline before running 20 yards infield and unleashing a powerful left-footed drive which swerved and dipped over the stranded Steve Simonsen into the top corner of the net.

Cooper then turned provider, getting to the byline and cutting the ball back for Cox to stroke the ball home from 10 yards.

And Cox rose to head home Neal Ardley's right-wing cross in the 68th minute to complete the scoring and ensure all three points for the team from the Welsh capital.

An entertaining opening saw the home side go close early on after Stoke defender Lewis Buxton fouled Bluebirds debutant Guylain Ndumbu-Nsungu out on the right.

The resulting free-kick from Cooper was almost met at the near post by Darren Purse - back in Dave Jones' line-up after being cleared to play by a Football Association of Wales disciplinary panel yesterday

- but David Brammer stooped to bravely deny the former West Brom and Birmingham man.

Ndumbu-Nsungu, eager to impress on his full debut following his free transfer from Darlington, let his enthusiasm get the better of him when he exacted retribution on Buxton for his earlier misdemeanour after nine minutes.

The Congolese striker was booked for the tackle and from the resulting free-kick on-loan Wigan midfielder Josip Skoko should have given Stoke the lead but fired straight at Neil Alexander.

Brammer stung Alexander's palms with a long-range drive as Johan Boskamp' side looked to be establishing a firm foothold in the game, before Cooper's spectacular goal gave Cardiff the lead against the run of play.

A scrappy passage of play ensued as both sides fought for control of the midfield and the vital next goal in the game, which would soon come the way of the hosts courtesy of Cox on the half-hour.

Cooper forced Simonsen into action early in the second half with another dipping effort, but this time the Scotsman was equal to it and tipped the ball over the crossbar.

Purse rifled a right-footed volley against the bar following Cooper's corner kick just before the hour, and the Bluebirds pressure was rewarded soon after when Cox rose to head home his second of the game.

Stoke rallied and Hannes Sigurdsson twice went close before substitute Peter Kopteff forced Alexander to tip around the post, but it was too little too late for Boskamp's side.

Cardiff Alexander, Ardley, Purse, Cox, Barker, Scimeca,Boland, Ledley, Cooper, Jerome, Ndumbu-Nsungu.

Subs Not Used: Margetson, Whitley, Weston, Mulryne, Ferretti.

Booked: Ndumbu-Nsungu, Purse.

Goals: Cooper 18, Cox 30, 68.

Stoke Simonsen, Broomes (Hill 68), Hoefkens, Duberry, Buxton,Henry, Brammer (Junior 77), Sweeney (Kopteff 45), Skoko,Sidibe, Sigurdsson.

Subs Not Used: de Goey, Rooney.

Booked: Sidibe.

Att: 10,780

Ref: M Jones (Wales).