Bellamy, Chopra end Leeds' run

Cardiff 2 Leeds 1:LEEDS' 12-game unbeaten run came to an end last night at the hands of the last team to beat them as Cardiff eased the pressure on manager Dave Jones.

Craig Bellamy, so often a scourge of Leeds in his Newcastle days, opened the scoring for Dave Jones’ outfit in the 10th minute and, after Robert Snodgrass had curled home a wonderful 59th-minute equaliser, Michael Chopra’s opportunist strike won it for Cardiff with 11 minutes remaining.

Chopra ran on to an innocuous-looking long ball from Peter Whittingham and, for the second time in the game, the visiting defence dozed off, allowing the striker to prod home a winner.

Bellamy took advantage of slack defending to net his fifth goal of the season. The visitors failed to pick up Bellamy as he collected a short corner from Chopra and, after exchanging passes with Whittingham, he tucked home under Kasper Schmeichel.

Former Cardiff striker Ross McCormack drove a free-kick against Bellamy in the wall as Leeds looked for a way back into the game, while at the other end Schmeichel did well to keep out efforts from Chris Burke and Bellamy.

Leeds drew level when substitute Sanchez Watt rolled a pass to Lloyd Sam who skipped inside two challenges and slammed a shot against Tom Heaton but, from the loose ball, Snodgrass picked up possession and curled an unstoppable effort beyond Heaton.

CARDIFF CITY: Heaton, McNaughton, Hudson, Quinn (Blake 74), Naylor, Burke (McPhail 78), Whittingham, Olofinjana, Bellamy, Chopra, Keogh. Subs not used: Santiago, Rae, Koumas, Matthews, Meades. Goals: Bellamy 11, Chopra 79.

LEEDS: Schmeichel, Connolly, Collins, O'Brien, Parker, Gradel (Sam 57), Howson, Johnson, Snodgrass, Paynter, McCormack (Watt 57), Sam (Becchio 63). Subs Not Used: Higgs, Bruce, Faye, Hughes. Booked: O'Brien, Connolly. Goals: Snodgrass 59.

Referee: Andy D'Urso(Essex).