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.