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VIEW MATCH REPORT

Sunday 24 Sep 2006
Southend 0-3 Cardiff
Cardiff pull 3 points ahead of Birmingham in the Premiership

Cardiff moved three points clear at the top of the Coca-Cola Championship with a commanding 3-0 victory over Southend at Roots Hall.

Captain Darren Purse stabbed home the opener in the 11th minute and Riccardo Scimeca tapped in a second in first-half injury time before Joe Ledley was credited with the third in the 65th minute although it appeared Simon Francis had the final touch.

The win saw the Bluebirds soar ahead of Birmingham, who began the day in second by virtue of goal difference, while Southend are now without a victory in four league games as their unbeaten home record came to an end.

Cardiff went into the match buoyed by a 4-1 home win over Luton last Saturday and they took the lead when Purse, on target against the Hatters, pounced from close range after Stephen McPhail caught the Southend defence napping with a quickly-taken free-kick.

The opener came two minutes after Southend striker Billy Paynter, who scored his first goal for the club in the midweek Carling Cup win over Brighton, saw his looping header bounce onto the top of the crossbar.

In-form Cardiff striker Michael Chopra, with five goals in his last three games, had a quiet opening half-hour but nearly doubled his side's lead with his first opportunity.

Kerrea Gilbert, on loan from Arsenal, cut the ball back to Chopra, who saw his 12-yard shot superbly blocked by Shrimpers defender Peter Clarke.

Southend midfielder Lewis Hunt, on target against the Seagulls, then registered the hosts' first attempt on target but goalkeeper Neil Alexander comfortably saved. Alexander also saved Mark Gower's drive as Steve Tilson's troops began to pick up the pace.

Cardiff had a chance to move 2-0 ahead six minutes before half-time after Clarke was penalised for a foul on Steven Thompson but Wales international Paul Parry blasted the free-kick way over the bar.

Southend thought they had equalised four minutes before half-time when Paynter headed home, only to be flagged offside.

Scimeca was then denied by goalkeeper Darryl Flahavan but he made no mistake when Southend failed to deal with the resulting corner.

Freddy Eastwood was denied by Alexander at the start of the second half as Southend attempted to get back into the game but Cardiff looked more threatening at the other end with Chopra and Scimeca going close.

The Bluebirds did add a third in the 65th minute when Ledley was awarded the goal from Chopra's cross from six yards but it seemed as though Francis got the last touch.

Thompson was denied a fourth by Flahavan while Willo Flood fired inches wide in the last minute just moments after entering the fray.

Deep into stoppage time Alexander made a fine stop to prevent Southend substitute Gary Hooper from scoring a consolation.