But Ipswich provided little to excite the 13,584 fans - Ninian Park's highest of the season.

Perhaps realising the paucity of their opposition Ipswich never moved above second gear and relied upon the sharpness of England striker Mariner to see them through.

Mariner picked up both goals - and on neither occasion did City's defence make it particularly difficult for him.

After a goal-less and fairly even first half, the breakthrough came in the 49th minute. Mariner sold a gigantic dummy and raced on into the penalty area, where Mills found him with a perceptive through-pass and the gangling front man slotted it home.

His second, after 73 minutes, was even easier. Talbot floated over a left-wing cross and Mariner was allowed to head in by a careless Cardiff defence.

It was fitting that skipper Mills should play a significant role in the first goal. Setting a club record of 494 appearances, he was ostensibly at right back, but popped up all over the field, causing Cardiff constant problems.

Talbot and the quietly efficient Viljoen gave him splendid support and Ipswich never missed absent stars Beattie, Whymark and Woods.

City, on the other hand, were without the suspended Robson and Buchanan, and it showed. Despite the efforts in midfield of Attley, surprisingly substituted by Grapes eight minutes from time, Cardiff could not penetrate the Ipswich defence.

For all his efforts, emergency striker Went never troubled Hunter. Alongside Went, the inexperienced Bishop tried hard, but Sayer - goal scoring hero of last season's Cup triumph over Spurs - was sadly out of touch.

Ipswich striker Geddis was booked for dissent in the first half, and limped off near the end to be replaced by Parkin.