Blues continued their unbeaten run away from home in the Coca-Cola Championship with a hard-fought win at Ninian Park, thanks to clinical James McFadden and Quincy goals.

McFadden struck gold with his first Blues goal since March after just five minutes, getting in behind the Bluebirds' back-line and slotting home neatly.

Quincy added a second minutes before half-time with a splendidly struck half-volley as Alex McLeish's side bounced back in style following last weekend's home defeat by Blackpool.

Ross McCormack scored a late goal for the hosts as they desperately tried to salvage a result but in the end the two first half strikes - and some resolute defending throughout the team - were enough to land all three points.

Tunisian centre-half Radhi Jaidi came in for his first league start of the season and there was also a place in the team for winger Quincy.

Jaidi replaced Martin Taylor, who took a seat on the bench. Another defensive change - the only other switch made by McLeish - saw Stuart Parnaby come in at right-back for the injured Stephen Kelly.

Cameron Jerome led from the front against his former club whilst Garry O'Connor, who had been out of action for a couple of weeks with a groin injury, took a place on the bench.

Cardiff featured a former Blue in captain Darren Purse and prior to the game McLeish knew all about Scottish trio Kevin McNaughton, Gavin Rae and McCormack from his time north of the border.

The hosts pressed forward in the early stages, urged on by a noisy home crowd. But the 650-plus Blues fans more than played their part in raising the decibels.

And on just five minutes the travelling army had plenty to cheer about when the visitors took the lead on the break. Quincy made strides down the left and dinked a clever ball into the path of McFadden, who had raced into the area. The Scot took a touch to bring the ball under control, drew out keeper Tom Heaton and placed a low shot past him and into the bottom right-hand corner for his first goal of the season.

There's no doubting the Bluebirds ability, like Blues, to play some decent football on the deck but their pretty passing was kept at bay by resolute Birmingham defending until 15 minutes when McCormack was allowed the space to shoot from just outside the box. His effort looped over the bar.

Just a minute or so later McCormack was involved again, cutting into the area and shooting from a tight angle but seeing the opportunity deflected behind off Liam Ridgewell. Joe Ledley then unleashed a thunderbolt from 20 yards that ricocheted behind as Cardiff continued to press forward.

With 20 minutes on the clock McFadden tried to wriggle past Jay Bothroyd but the home player stopped him in his tracks illegally just outside the box. The resulting free-kick, from a promising position, came to nothing though as the Bluebirds belted the ball clear.

On 22 the lively McCormack was at it again, this time surging down the left and playing a low ball right across the area four yards out. It was met at the back post by Peter Whittingham, whose hooked left-foot shot was pushed behind by David Murphy.

But despite the home side's pressure there wasn't really much to scare Maik Taylor in the Blues goal early doors. The visitors defended stoutly and restricted Cardiff mainly to long-range efforts.

On the break Blues looked potent, with McFadden relishing the opportunity every time he got hold of the ball. With 30 minutes gone he exchanged a one-two with Murphy and the left-back's low shot from 12 yards was saved by the feet of Heaton at his near post.

On 34 captain Lee Carsley was forced to head off his own line when an inswinging corner was met by a fierce Roger Johnson header and the ball destined for the far post. The skipper had read it well and was in the right place at the right time to head clear.

With 41 played Quincy doubled the lead with an absolute belter of a strike. Blues won a throw-in halfway inside the Cardiff half on the left and Murphy took the responsibility, finding the Ghanaian in space some 20 yards out on the left-hand angle of the box. He wasted no time in unleashing a first time shot that flew past outstretched defenders' flailing legs and in at the back post.

A McFadden corner from the right flicked off the bar and over as Blues continued to press and Cardiff's frustration was starting to show as their previously neat passing started to go awry.

As you would perhaps expect from a side 2-0 down at the break the Bluebirds came flying out of the blocks after the break and with a couple of minutes played Whittingham's shot - which was arrowing goalwards - was deflected behind by the chest of Jaidi.

The first 15 minutes of the second period were decidedly dull after what had been an action-packed first half with both sides failing to find their cohesion.

On 64 Jerome had a chance to inflict further pain on his former employers when a swept Larsson cross into the area from the left was nodded across the face of the six-yard box by Ridgewell. The Blues striker flung a leg at the ball and got the slightest of touches on it but it floated narrowly wide.

Miguel Comminges was then booked for a challenge on Parnaby and Cardiff began to pick up the momentum but every time they flooded forward they were met by a Blues brick wall consisting of the back four and the man marshalling things just in front of them, captain Carsley.

On 76 the scorer of Blues' first goal, McFadden, was replaced by Marcus Bent - the Birmingham player receiving a less than warm welcome from the home fans after choosing St. Andrew's over Ninian Park in the summer.

Three minutes later McCormack headed against the outside of the post as Cardiff rallied but their supporters still seemed more interested in barracking Bent than urging on their side.

On 84 Jerome, who had led the line manfully and worked his socks off, was substituted and Garry O'Connor was presented with a taste of the action.

Two minutes later Cardiff breathed new life into their hopes courtesy of McCormack, the Bluebird curling a low left-footer past Taylor and in at the back post from just outside the area.

Bent chipped a shot over at the other end as Blues rallied and, thankfully, McCormack's strike proved to be merely a consolation as the visitors hung on for an excellent three points.

Full time: Cardiff 1 Blues 2

Cardiff City: Tom Heaton, Kevin McNaughton, Darren Purse (C), Roger Johnson, Miguel Comminges (Mark Kennedy 76), Joe Ledley, Gavin Rae, Peter Whittingham, Paul Parry (Eddie Johnson 76), Ross McCormack, Jay Bothroyd. Unused subs: Peter Enckelman (GK), Gabor Gyepes, Darcy Blake.

Goals: McCormack (86)

Birmingham City: Maik Taylor, Stuart Parnaby, Radhi Jaidi, Liam Ridgewell, David Murphy, James McFadden (Marcus Bent 76), Sebastian Larsson, Lee Carsley (C), Kemy Agustien, Quincy Owusu-Abeyie (Kevin Phillips 90), Cameron Jerome (Garry O'Connor 84). Subs: Colin Doyle (GK), Martin Taylor.

Goals: McFadden (5), Quincy (41)

Referee: Mr M Jones

Attendance: 18,304