QPR

24

Cerny

3

Stewart

16

Connolly

2

Ramage

5

Hall F

15

Tommasi **

14

Rowlands

17

Cook

20

Ledesma *

23

Blackstock

22

Di Carmine ***

On The Bench

1

Cole

3

Delaney

10

Buzsaky * (55)

4

Mahon ** (67)

11

Agyemang *** (71)

Cardiff

22

Heaton

14

Johnson R

24

Comminges

2

McNaughton

4

Purse

7

Whittingham

4

Rae G

16

Ledley *

10

McPhail

8

Chopra

21

Johnson E **

On The Bench

20

Enckelman

6

Gyepes * (29)

17

Parry ** (72)

13

Blake

40

Brown

City, who lost captain Darren Purse to a straight red card in the first half, looked set to hold out for a point with Rangers toiling in attack.

But in front of co-owners Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore - no strangers to late drama following last weekend's climax to the Formula One season - Mahon popped up to secure the points with 10 minutes remaining.

Cardiff full-back Miguel Comminges was then booked twice in the space of two minutes to compound their misery.

Michael Chopra, who rejoined Cardiff on loan from Sunderland this week after snubbing QPR, worked hard up front but could not find a way through on his second debut as his side slumped to a first defeat on the road this season.

Caretaker boss Gareth Ainsworth, who tasted defeat for the first time at Ipswich last week, now takes his side to Manchester United in the Carling Cup on the back of a morale-boosting win - although on this evidence Sir Alex Ferguson will not have any sleepless nights between now and Tuesday.

The Bluebirds almost went ahead in the opening minute when Roger Johnson met Peter Whittingham's corner with a firm header which flew just over the top.

Chopra got his first sight of goal in the 12th minute, turning in the area and firing an angled drive wide of Radek Cerny's right post.

Stephen McPhail came even closer 10 minutes later after Whittingham reached the by-line and cut the ball back, the midfielder's first-time shot forcing a fine fingertip save from Cerny.

But City were reduced to 10 men after 28 minutes when Purse went in high, and fractionally late, on Cook and was instantly dismissed by referee Lee Probert.

Emmanuel Ledesma forced a save from City goalkeeper Tom Heaton with a volley from outside the area, while Whittingham fizzed a shot just over the crossbar as the half drew to a close.

After the break, Cerny saved from Eddie Johnson and the on-loan Fulham forward also dragged a shot wide.

Samuel Di Carmine fired over for the hosts, while a Peter Ramage cross had Heaton back-pedalling but the keeper just managed to stop the ball from crossing the line.

Heaton then palmed away a fierce drive from substitute Akos Buzsaky, with Patrick Agyemang flagged offside as he attempted to convert the rebound.

For City, Chopra felt he should have had a penalty when he was clumsily felled by Damion Stewart, and Roger Johnson headed wide

But it was Rangers who secured the points in the 80th minute when Mahon rose highest to nod Ramage's deep cross back past Heaton and into the net.

Comminges, who was booked for a foul on Buzsaky moments earlier, then saw red for dissent to cap a rotten afternoon for the visitors.