Cardiff City's playoff surge has been halted by Bristol City following a goalless draw in the Severnside derby.

The first chance of the contest fell the way of the English outfit, as Marlon Pack played a half-cleared corner back into the box for Aaron Wilbraham to force David Marshall into action for the first time.

It was the Robins who created the next opening of note, too, when Norwich City loanee Elliott Bennett's pass into a promising position just about evaded Jonathan Kodjia.

Matthew Connolly headed wide from Cardiff's best chance of the first half after rising highest inside the box, only to glance his header wide of the target.

Keeping hold of possession was proving to be a tough ask for both sides as the opening 45 minutes wore on, with clear-cut chances few and far between in South Wales.

Bristol City did have a glorious opportunity to open the scoring right on the brink of half time, but Marshall somehow got a hand to Kodjia's close-range header to ensure that it remained goalless at the break.

Cardiff emerged for the second half fired up, and they had a strong penalty shout rejected after Craig Noone went down under the challenge of Joe Bryan.

That came moments before Peter Whittingham came close to picking out well-placed teammate Joe Mason, as the Bluebirds looked to up things in search of an opener.

Some impressive defending was then needed by Korey Smith to deny Mason once more, while Kagisho Dikgacoi was next to come close from another cross into the box.

For all Cardiff's early efforts to try to take the lead, Luke Freeman very nearly put the visitors in front with his fine drive that Marshall was equal to between the sticks.

The breakthrough moment looked as though it had arrived 10 minutes from time when Kodjia tucked away Bryan's initial shot which came back off the post, only for the offside flag to be raised.

Up the other end, Aron Gunnarsson went down under the challenge of Luke Ayling inside the box, but any appeals were quickly waved away.

There was to be one more big chance for either side, as first Marshall stood strong to Bryan's shot before Bennett struck the rebound against the upright, while substitute Sammy Ameobi fired wide from close range less than a minute later.

That proved to be it in terms of the goalmouth action, meaning that Cardiff find themselves three points off the playoff zone and opponents Bristol City are one point closer to safety.