Cardiff City 0 Leeds United 3: Impressive Whites score three to stay in pursuit of the top two

Patrick Bamford and Daniel James scored first-half goals and Georginio Rutter added a late third with Leeds’ control over the 90 minutes almost absolute. Leeds even had the luxury of missing a 79th-minute penalty as Crysencio Summerville, who had an off-day in front of goal, sent his effort against a post.

It was a welcome victory for Leeds – who remain fourth in the table – after costly league defeats at Sunderland, Preston and West Brom over the past month.

Cardiff entered the contest on the fringes of the play-off race and desperate to stay in the mix over the second half of the season.

But, just as against leaders Leicester in their last home game, the Bluebirds never looked like bridging the gap against opponents playing in the Premier League this time last year.

Cardiff have now won only one of their last six home games and appear in need of a strong January transfer window to revive their fortunes.

Ethan Ampadu swept over an early Summerville corner before the Wales midfielder, deployed at the back on familiar soil due to injuries, played a delightful ball into Bamford’s path.

Bamford took his time, perhaps too much, and fired wide from an angle.

Leeds did not have to wait long to break the deadlock as Summerville found space down the left after 13 minutes.

The Dutchman’s cross did not find its intended target but the ball bobbled back towards Bamford, who prodded home while on the floor for his third goal in as many games.

Leeds had chances to double that advantage as, much to their manager Daniel Farke’s annoyance, Cardiff goalkeeper Jak Alnwick denied Summerville and Bamford.

Cardiff briefly stirred as Kion Etete failed to chip the ball over the head of Illan Meslier with the Leeds goalkeeper out of his penalty area.

Karlan Grant’s drive from distance also lacked composure, but home hopes of some sort of recovery was soon snuffed out.

Glen Kamara dispossessed Manolis Siopis after 31 minutes and drove forward towards the Cardiff box.

Kamara slipped in Summerville and his deflected shot fell to James, who had the easy task of tapping home into an empty net.

Alnwick made another smart from Rutter and Cardiff’s growing frustration was reflected by Perry Ng’s boking for a wild challenge on Summerville.

It was more of the same at the start of the second period as Summerville twice drove wide and James looped a shot onto the Cardiff crossbar.

Alnwick pushed Rutter’s chip over the top and Summerville missed from 12 yards after Mark McGuinness had bundled over Rutter.

But Leeds added a third two minutes from time from a rapid breakaway as Rutter hammered home.