Paul Parry (44), Kevin McNaughton (49) and Joe Ledley (63) scored the goals that saw the Bluebirds finish the season in the top half of the Coca-Cola Championship.

It left Barnsley in the bottom half of the Championship, but with memories still fresh of their FA Cup advanture - halted by the same opponents at Wembley last month – Davey was satisfied with his season's work.

"It has been a long, hard season for us all, but we can look at victories over Liverpool and Chelsea, as well as being very competitive in the league," he said. "The Championship is a fantastic division to be in and that is why we have worked so hard to stay there.

"I wish Cardiff City well in the cup final, and it is a tribute to the Championship that we had three teams in the semis."

Cardiff can now look forward to their preparations for Wembley in good heart.

City showed only one change from the team that beat Barnsley at Wembley, with Parry up front in place of Steve Thompson.

The Bluebirds set the early pace and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink twice went close before Peter Whittingham rattled the crossbar with an angled drive.

Parry's all-important opener came a minute before the interval following a dazzling run by Glenn Loovens.

He switched to Ledley and the hero of Wembley laid the ball back to Parry, who drilled home a low shot.

The game was put beyond the Tykes four minutes into the second half. McNaughton found himself on the byline and chipped over Luke Steele, and the ball had crossed the line before Ledley made sure.

It was Ledley who claimed the third following a mistake by Dennis Souza. He failed to clear under pressure and Ledley was left with the simple task of side-footing beyond Steele.

Cardiff: Enckelman, McNaughton, Loovens (Purse 61), Johnson, Capaldi (Ramsey 57), Whittingham, Rae, McPhail, Ledley, Parry (Thompson 71), Hasselbaink. Unused substitutes: Oakes, Sinclair.

Barnsley: Steele, Van Homoet, Nyatanga, Souza, Kozluk (Mattis 70), Butterfield, Hassell (Togwell 51), Campbell-Ryce, Leon, Macken, Ferenczi (Adam 78). Unused substitutes: Letheren, Nardiello.

Referee: C Penton (Sussex).

Barnsley man of the match: Luke Steele.