Stoke had managed to win just one of their previous 13 away league matches before their vital win at Cardiff
Cardiff City's hopes of avoiding Championship relegation suffered a crushing blow as a late own goal from Will Fish meant they were beaten 1-0 by relegation rivals Stoke City in the Welsh capital.
Stoke were much the better side in the first half and should have led, but midfielder Lewis Baker fired over and Jordan Thompson's volley struck the crossbar.
The second half was tense and tight, but Cardiff should have found what might have been a winner with 10 minutes remaining, but Isaak Davies blazed over from close-range with the goal at his mercy.
With the contest seemingly heading towards a stalemate, it was the Potters who won out as Ben Wilmot's shot deflected off two Cardiff players and found the net via the unfortunate Fish.
The goal moves Stoke five points clear of the drop zone, with Cardiff still only a point from safety, but now only two points ahead of Luton Town and Plymouth Argyle behind them and with time running out.
It was difficult to overstate the importance of this contest in terms of the bigger picture of the Championship relegation scrap.
This was unquestionably a huge game for both sides, direct relegation rivals at a time of the season where the margin for error has disappeared and every remaining minute has entered make or break territory.
Bluebirds boss Omer Riza made four changes to the side who drew at Preston North End in midweek as he reverted to a 4-4-2 system, while Stoke boss Mark Robins recalled striker Ali Al-Hamadi in the only change from his side's draw with Luton.
It was the Potters who will feel they might have seized the initiative as they missed a golden chance on six minutes as in-form midfielder Baker fired over the crossbar with a clear shot at goal from the edge of the penalty area.
Baker, making his 100th league appearance with Stoke, had scored in his previous two games and five in his previous eight appearances, but his composure deserted him after a flowing move saw Bae Junho and Eric Bocat combine to put Baker in prime position to finish.
Stoke missed another gilt-edged chance on 11 minutes as Junior Tchamadeu could only steer the ball over the crossbar from close-range after Bocat's teasing cross.
Cardiff responded with an effort from long-range fizzed wide by Callum O'Dowda, but the Bluebirds were surprisingly passive in the early exchanges, with Cian Ashford heading wide and O'Dowda barely testing Viktor Johansson with another long-range shot.
A lengthy delay for a medical emergency to a Cardiff supporter saw the players leave the field as the game was suspended and it was Stoke who continued to look the better side after the restart as Thompson's deflected volley rattled the Cardiff crossbar with goalkeeper Ethan Horvath beaten.
With the match delayed by around 30 minutes compared to the other 15:00 BST kick-offs in the Championship, both sets of supporters were fully aware of the goals being scored in the games featuring their relegation rivals and the tension continued to ratchet up at the Cardiff City Stadium.
A relatively open first half proceeded a far more cagey contest after the break with chances at a premium as set-pieces became key, though Million Manhoef did test Cardiff with a weak shot from a tight angle and a dangerous cross that Perry Ng had to clear.
Cardiff were the more urgent side in the closing exchanges with their need for three points greater, but they spurned an unbelievable chance on 80 minutes as two substitutes combined, but Davies blazed over from under the crossbar after Rubin Colwill's cross.
And the miss was punished to the fullest extent as Cardiff failed to deal with a long throw and ex-Swansea defender Wilmot wriggled free and saw his effort cross the line via two deflections on 85 minutes.
There was to be no comeback from the Bluebirds and the boos rang out from the home fans at the final whistle, with the visiting supporters celebrating a seismic victory in their own battle to avoid the drop.
