Cardiff City lead Nottingham Forest 1-0 at the City Ground following a headed goal from striker Kenwyne Jones.
Joe Mason had an early penalty appeal waved away for the visitors by referee Oliver Langford following a challenge from Jack Hobbs.
Michail Antonio then threatened for Forest, forcing Fabio to smuggle the ball behind for a corner which resulted in little more.
There were then half chances from Anthony Pilkington and Mason before Cardiff took the lead with a Peter Whittingham cross finding the head of Jones, who scored his second goal of the season after 23 minutes.
Mason continued to intimidate the Forest defence and forced keeper Dorus de Vries into a save after a powerful shot from an acute angle.
Forest's Tyler Walker stung the palms of Cardiff keeper David Marshall and captain Matt Mills had a chance to equalise shortly after the break, but the first half finished with the Bluebirds in the lead.
