Ryan Tafazolli celebrates with team mates after scoring Wycombe's first goal against Cardiff
Championship bottom side Wycombe Wanderers earned just a third win of the season as they dealt Cardiff City's play-off hopes another blow.
Ryan Tafazolli headed the hosts in front from a first-half corner by their captain and ex-Bluebird Joe Jacobson.
David Wheeler doubled their lead with a thumping header after the break, only Wycombe's seventh home goal this term.
Cardiff barely threatened in a limp display, save for Junior Hoilett nodding in deep into added time.
The substitute's goal did little to improve a dire night for the Welsh club, compounded when their manager Neil Harris was sent off for dissent.
Wycombe remain at the foot of the table but they have closed the gap on second-from-bottom Rotherham United to one point, while they are a further three points from safety.
Cardiff, meanwhile, slip further away from the play-offs, seven points adrift having fallen to 15th place in the Championship table.
That will increase the pressure on Harris, who has overseen four defeats in Cardiff's past five matches.
Harris had admitted during an earlier lean spell this season that he was battling to save his job and, considering chairman Mehmet Dalman said Cardiff would be "disappointed" if they were not in the top six by January, the former Millwall boss may be fearing for his future again.
This current downturn in form will be particularly frustrating for Harris as it has come off the back of four successive wins, ended abruptly by a derby loss to Swansea City earlier this month.
Having lost their way since then, Cardiff may have viewed a match at Wycombe - victorious only twice all season - as an ideal opportunity to rediscover their winning touch.
But that never looked like happening as they produced a lifeless performance at Adams Park.
Their evening started badly when captain and centre-back Sean Morrison was forced off injured after 20 minutes, replaced by Filip Benkovic, who was making his debut after joining on loan from Leicester.
Morrison is a highly influential player for the Bluebirds, dominant defensively and a threat in opposition penalty areas from set-pieces - and Cardiff clearly missed his aerial prowess when they fell behind.
Wycombe's opening goal came from a corner by Jacobson, floated to the back post where Tafazolli rose above Benkovic and headed in.
That was only a sixth home goal of the season for Wycombe, and a notable assist for their skipper Jacobson playing against his boyhood club for the first time in his career.
The home side did not create many chances but they deserved their lead, playing with far more purpose and energy than their listless opponents.
Cardiff at least mustered a couple of efforts on goal in the second half, Sheyi Ojo forcing Ryan Allsop into a save and Harry Wilson shooting wide.
But those were rare attacks from the visitors, who failed to truly trouble a Wycombe defence which had gone eight games without a clean sheet.
Just as Cardiff thought they might be able to force their way back into the match, their fate was sealed by the home side's second goal.
Garath McCleary delivered a fine cross from the left wing and Wheeler connected with a powerful header which flew into the top corner.
There was no way back for Cardiff from that point. When Hoilett headed in off the post three minutes into injury time, the game as done.
By that stage, Harris had been sent off for dissent, the frustration of the evening - and perhaps the potential implications for his own position - getting the better of the Cardiff manager.
- Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text
Line-upsWycombe
- 1Allsop2Grimmer12Knight6Tafazolli3Jacobson7Wheeler18ThompsonBooked at 45mins33MehmetiSubstituted forSamuelat 84'minutes17HorganSubstituted forOnyedinmaat 64'minutes9IkpeazuBooked at 78minsSubstituted forAkinfenwaat 78'minutes19McClearySubstituted forBloomfieldat 84'minutes
Substitutes
- 10Bloomfield11Kashket20Akinfenwa21Charles23Onyedinma24Adeniran25Samuel26McCarthy31Stockdale
Cardiff
- 12Smithies7BacunaBooked at 90mins4MorrisonSubstituted forBenkovicat 20'minutes16Nelson3BennettBooked at 88mins23H Wilson8Ralls6VaulksSubstituted forHoilettat 72'minutes27Ojo29M HarrisSubstituted forMurphyat 72'minutes9Glatzel
Substitutes
- 1Phillips11Murphy13Benkovic18Cunningham20Whyte21Pack32Bagan33Hoilett36Patten
Referee:Leigh DoughtyMatch StatsHome TeamWycombeAway TeamCardiffPossessionHome35%Away65%ShotsHome12Away16Shots on TargetHome4Away3CornersHome5Away7FoulsHome11Away12Live TextPost update
Match ends, Wycombe Wanderers 2, Cardiff City 1.
90'+5'Full Time
Second Half ends, Wycombe Wanderers 2, Cardiff City 1.
90'+4'Post update
Offside, Cardiff City. Alex Smithies tries a through ball, but David Junior Hoilett is caught offside.
90'+3'goalGoal!
Goal! Wycombe Wanderers 2, Cardiff City 1. David Junior Hoilett (Cardiff City) header from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Sheyi Ojo.
90'+3'Post update
Attempt saved. Alex Samuel (Wycombe Wanderers) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Adebayo Akinfenwa.
90'+2'Post update
Corner, Wycombe Wanderers. Conceded by Leandro Bacuna.
90'+1'Post update
Foul by Harry Wilson (Cardiff City).
90'+1'Post update
Fred Onyedinma (Wycombe Wanderers) wins a free kick on the left wing.
90'Booking
Leandro Bacuna (Cardiff City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
90'Post update
Foul by Leandro Bacuna (Cardiff City).
90'Post update
Joe Jacobson (Wycombe Wanderers) wins a free kick on the left wing.
88'Booking
Joe Bennett (Cardiff City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
88'Post update
Foul by Joe Bennett (Cardiff City).
88'Post update
Alex Samuel (Wycombe Wanderers) wins a free kick on the right wing.
86'Post update
Foul by David Junior Hoilett (Cardiff City).
86'Post update
Curtis Thompson (Wycombe Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
85'Post update
Sheyi Ojo (Cardiff City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
85'Post update
Foul by Matt Bloomfield (Wycombe Wanderers).
84'Substitution
Substitution, Wycombe Wanderers. Alex Samuel replaces Anis Mehmeti.
84'Substitution
Substitution, Wycombe Wanderers. Matt Bloomfield replaces Garath McCleary.
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Source: bbc.com