Image source, Dan Westwell

The entertainment factor wasn't high. But you have to admire the way Cardiff went about their business against Forest.

It was a streetwise performance full of nous, played with a plan in mind.

Forest tried to play their way through but were often outmuscled and couldn't maintain a rhythm or tempo against a side who expertly disrupted their hosts.

Job done for Warnock and co. Cardiff are back to four points adrift of leaders Wolves. Forest stay ninth, five outside the play-offs.

Have a lovely Sunday evening. Hope it's more fun that the fare on offer at the City Ground.

A miserable day weather wise and not a game to live long in the memory banks, or bring much cheer.

The Cardiff fans won't care. Nor will their manager Neil Warnock who will be heading back to South Wales a very happy manager after an impressively professional win on the road.

It was all pretty easy for the Bluebirds protecting their 2-0 lead after the break.

Cardiff's win is just about to be confirmed. The home fans have been drifting out of the ground for a good few minutes now.

This has been a powerful second-half performance from Cardiff, most of which has been played in neutral territory around the halfway line.

A Forest fightback has never seemed likely.

Thoroughly professional stuff from Neil Warnock's men, who will go to within four points of Championship leaders Wolves unless there is the most dramatic of finishes here.

This was the standout moment from a pretty forgettable match,

Danny Ward's spectacular goal made it 2-0 to Cardiff before the break and it's been pretty lifeless since.

We will have six minutes of injury-time.

Image source, Getty Images

Another yellow card for time kicking the ball away sees Cardiff substitute Frederic Gounongbe go into the book.

It looks a lost cause for Forest now.

Another change for Cardiff. Danny Ward is off. Frederic Gounongbe enters the fray. Less than five minutes plus injury-time to play.

Forest are having plenty of pressure now. It's penalty box pinball in the Cardiff area after a succession of corners.

Kieran Dowell and Mustapha Carayol are among those keeping the ball alive but the visitors just about clear things.

Talking of substitutions... Former Forest man Greg Halford is on for Cardiff. Craig Bryson is the man he replaces.

Ben Brereton charges down the flank and wins a corner that again comes to nothing. The final 10 minutes are upon us.

There should be a good few minutes of injury time though because of the subs and a few injuries.

Cardiff also make a change. Sol Bamba is replaced by Lee Peltier.

Nottingham Forest's Matty Cash comes on for his first appearance of the season following a knee injury.

Fellow academy graduate Ben Brereton is also introduced.

Ben Osborn and Daryl Murphy make way.

Forest's Mustapha Carayol gets the crowd going after being found by a delightful pass by Ben Osborn, but the winger's shot is blocked.

The substitute has made an encouraging start.

Here's the man who's stunning goal has put Cardiff in full control at the City Ground.

Danny Ward's 20-yard first-half strike to make it 2-0 was a real pearler.

Image source, Rex Features

Mustapha Carayol comes on for Barrie McKay as Forest make their first change.

He's bright and lively and has made an impact from the bench in recent weeks. Can he do so today?

It's hardly been a classic and the game is drifting a bit. But I'm pretty sure these Cardiff fans don't mind one jot.

Image source, Getty Images

Into the final 25 minutes now. It's pretty flat at the City Ground. Cardiff are really grinding Forest down and wasting as much time as possible.

Callum Paterson gets a yellow card for taking too long with a throw in.

Callum Paterson heads a decent chance wide for Cardiff from a corner. The Bluebirds are a big, imposing side and are threatening every time they have a set-piece in the final third.

Some more urgency from Forest.

David Vaughan takes a quick free-kick and Barrie McKay's smart pass finds Tyler Walker, whose shot is saved by keeper Neil Etheridge.

Image source, Rex Features