Sheffield Wednesday 0 Cardiff City 2: Owls are back in deep trouble after Cardiff do double over Jones

The Bluebirds ended a three-match winless run to get their title tilt back up to full speed, moving seven points clear at the top of the Championship with goals from Don Cowie and Matthew Connolly.

But Owls boss Jones, who neglected to make any mention of his six-year spell with the Welsh club in his programme notes, was not overly impressed with them.

“It possibly looks like they’re going to limp over the line,” he said. “They’re the ones in pole position, they’ve spent an awful lot of money so I’m sure they have to go up.

“At any club where you spend that much money, the owners will be looking to get a return.”

Jones, who had two failed play-off campaigns at Cardiff and led them to an FA Cup final, did not see any great disparity between the two sides but admitted naivety had cost the hosts, who are now just above the bottom three.

The opening goal, which on the cusp of half-time and following a credible first-half showing from Wednesday, was the result of a half-cleared corner.

Cowie picked up the loose ball and found the bottom corner via a deflection off Anthony Gardner.

And after the interval, a long, flighted free-kick delivery from Peter Whittingham was nodded in by Connolly from close range for his fifth of the season.

“There was nothing in it at all,” added Jones. “We spoke about how they like to build pressure by winning set-pieces and putting the ball in the box and we spoke about how to stop it.

“But we’ve switched off at key times and that’s disappointing. We’ve shown a little bit of naivety where maybe they’ve got that edge of experience over us.”

With results elsewhere going against Wednesday, they are entrenched in a battle against the drop and Jones said the international break could work in their favour.

“I’ve heard people say it’s a good time, but would it have been a good time had we won?” he questioned.

“What I do know is that we could use that time to get a few players back to fitness and get a bit of match sharpness into a few others.”

Cardiff, who won the home fixture 1-0 in December, are now nine points clear of third-placed Watford and manager Malky Mackay was delighted with what he saw.

“It’s another three points towards where we want to go,” said the Scot. “We’ve been top since November 24 and it’s a long time to be there and be shot at, discussed, debated – I’m very pleased with the mental strength.”

Sheffield Wednesday: Kirkland, Buxton, Gardner, Llera, R Johnson, Antonio (Maguire 77), Prutton, Pugh (Madine 56), Helan (J Johnson 68), Lee, Lita. Unused substitutes: Bywater, Taylor, Semedo, McCabe.

Cardiff City: Marshall, Connolly, Barnett, Nugent, Taylor, Cowie, Gunnarsson, Whittingham, Bellamy (Smith 81), Helguson (Gestede 87), Campbell. Unused substitutes: Lewis, McNaughton, Conway, Kim, Mutch.

Referee: James Linington (Isle of Wight).

Man of the match: Don Cowie.