Cardiff City 2 Leeds United 1: Injured McCormack ruled out for weeks as Whites suffer in Wales

The former Bluebirds striker twisted his ankle in just the third minute following a challenge by Jordon Mutch and was carried off on a stretcher.

Goals from Craig Bellamy and a Peter Whittingham penalty handed the points to Cardiff, Rudolph Austin netting a consolation for Leeds.

United boss Neil Warnock said: “I thought we deserved a point. But to lose Ross McCormack after three minutes was hard, he’s our only Bellamy.

“Ross has twisted his ankle quite severely. I don’t think there is any break, but we can’t tell yet because of the swelling. I’d imagine he’ll be out for a few weeks.

“It was a fantastic goal by Bellamy, but we were very disappointed with the free-kick that was given. Maynard is good at it. Michael Tonge pulled out of the tackle and he’s gone down. The referee has given the free-kick. We should have had the wall better and were naïve.”

Cardiff manager Malky Mackay believes a few harsh words at half-time turned the game in their favour.

Scotsman Mackay was unhappy with the speed of the Bluebirds’ tempo in the opening period at the Cardiff City Stadium.

Yet a half-time dressing down for his players saw a much-improved performance and the reward of goals from Bellamy and Whittingham.

Austin’s free-kick for Leeds halved the deficit to set up a tense finish in the Welsh capital, but Cardiff hung on to jump into fifth place in the table.

Mackay said: “Half-time changed the game. Leeds came and worked very hard, were compact and disciplined.

“They negated space in the wide areas and did their homework by watching our game against Wolves.

“We spoke at half-time, upped the tempo and attacked them in different areas in the second half. We had 19 chances at goal and Paddy Kenny made three or four magnificent saves. On another day we could have scored four or five. After half-time we looked a different team.”

Bellamy, who had not played since August 21 after a calf injury, needed just four second-half minutes on his comeback to net his first goal since his free transfer move from Liverpool last month.

He arrowed a 20-yard free-kick into the top corner past Leeds goalkeeper Kenny to break the deadlock. Mackay said: “It was a fantastic strike and Craig showed the quality of the player we have got when he came on.

Cardiff: Marshall, McNaughton, Hudson, Connolly, Taylor, Whittingham, Smith, Noone (Bellamy 64), Mutch (Gunnarsson 76), Helguson, Maynard (Cowie 83). Unused substitutes: Lewis, Kim, Mason, Nugent.

Leeds United: Kenny, Peltier, Drury (Diouf 46), Pearce, Lees, Austin, White, Tonge, Byram, Becchio, McCormack (Varney 5), Varney (Poleon 83). Unused substitutes: Ashdown, Kisnorbo, Brown, Gray.

Referee: P Tierney (Lancashire).