Cardiff 1-0 Middlesbrough: The Sunday Mirror match report

Cardiff's day of reckoning ended in relief in the boardroom and joy on the pitch as Jay Bothroyd’s early goal – and a heroic defensive display – kept them in the Champioinshp’s top six.

The pre-match demonstration by around 1,000 fans concerned at the club’s financial plight passed without problems.

And manager Dave Jones saluted those supporters as well as his own injury-ravaged team, declaring: “The fans got behind us when it mattered. They were magnificent. So were my players.

“A lot of people thought we’d be out of the play-off places this weekend. We showed what can be done when everyone pulls together.”

But there was controversy about their victory, with Boro boss Gordon Strachan incensed by referee Darren Deadman ruling out what had seemed a second-half leveller from David Wheater.

On the advice of his assistant, Deadman ruled that Leroy Lita had handled the ball – bringing the withering response from Strachan: “Wheater, Lita, there is a difference between them.”

But the Scot, whose side probably deserved a point, admitted: “We’ve played worse than that and won. But if you don’t take your chances, you can’t complain.”

Cardiff, surged ahead after just three minutes.

But Strachan must have been incensed at his defenders, who stood rooted to the spot as Darcy Blake’s cross landed at the feet of Gabor Gyepes.

The Hungarian managed to prod the ball goalwards and, with keeper Danny Coyne stranded, Bothroyd raced in to steer it over the line for his 10th goal of the season.

Defensive jitters weren’t confined to one side and a mix-up between Anthony Gerrard and Adam Matthews almost gifted Jeremie Aliadiere an equaliser on the half hour, before Gerrard’s last-ditch tackle forced the French striker to fire over.

Cardiff could have doubled their lead just before the interval when Chris Burke went on a surging run into Boro’s danger area. The little Scot twisted his way past Andrew Taylor’s tackle before falling under Gary O’|Neill’s lunging challenge.

It looked a penalty but Deadman instead booked Burke for diving.

Boro should have levelled four minutes into the second half. Lita was unmarked as he met Taylor’s pinpoint cross, only to head over the bar.

Strachan’s men were really beginning to impose themselves and it seemed their pressure had earned them an equaliser after 62 minutes, whenWheater rose highest to meet Barry Robson’s free-kick to glance the ball past David Marshallt.

But their celebrations were cut short when Deadman – acting on the advice of his assistant Nick Hobbis – ruled that Lita had palmed the ball on to him with his hand.

Robson and Lita were both booked for protesting and there was even a finger-wagging for Strachan.

But his team still continued to pour forward and it needed a leaping save from Marshall to stop Chris Killen’s header.

And then Lita fired over from a good position, before Marshall tipped O’Neill’s free-kick over the bar.