More than 1,000 Bluebirds fans were at Bolton Wanderers for a crunch Championship clash, but they were left bitterly disappointed.

Relegation battlers Bolton, who were second from bottom, won 2-0 and inflicted only a fourth league defeat on Cardiff City this season.

It was a fiercely contested match in which the home team were awarded a penalty for handball just when it seemed they were taking control of a low quality match.

Gary Madine scored from the spot and then set up Josh Vela for the second goal.

Both goals came inside the last 20 minutes of a match in which Cardiff had a Junior Hoilett effort ruled out for offside.

The Bluebirds are now seven points behind leaders Wolves, although they are still second.

Wanderers included former Swansea midfield player Darren Pratley and ex-Bluebirds loanee Sammy Ameobi, while Andrew Taylor and Craig Noone were both in the home squad.

They were at Cardiff together, left-back Taylor staying three years and substitute Noone five seasons.

Noone joined Bolton from Cardiff in August.

There were flashes of good work from Ameobi, but too often he failed to deliver the right pass or shot when needed.

Cardiff called up Greg Halford and striker Omar Bogle.

Centre-forward Kenneth Zohore made a surprising return among the substitutes.

Nathaniel Mendez-Laing caused Bolton major problems with his pace and trickery, while all-action Joe Ralls battled it out with Pratley in a feisty contest through the middle.

Ralls is hugely competitive and never stops running, winning tackles and inevitably being first to any second ball opportunities.

There were few chances for either side in what was a physically bruising encounter, although Pratley was the only player booked.

Cardiff had the ball in the net when Junior Hoilett fired home, but he was ruled to be offside.

Halford patrolled in front of the back four, protecting the City defence where Sol Bamba and Bruno Manga linked up with Sean Morrison out injured.

With Aron Gunnarsson also missing after an ankle operation it was Halford who took responsibility to launch long throws into the Bolton penalty area.

It was a battle at the Macron Stadium which was niggly at times, but referee Darren Bond only resorted to one booking during the first half. He cautioned another three after the break, two from Bolton and four Bluebirds.

Both teams pressed hard, closed down space and refused to give an inch, but there was a big lack of quality in a scrappy match.

Wanderers sent on Noone on the hour and he took over from Will Buckley, while Ameobi switched from left to right wing and Noone slotted in.

Cardiff responded by sending on Zohore for Bogle, who had worked hard and competing without have a chance to go for goal.

The Bluebirds upped the tempo and began to press Bolton back in the last 20 minutes, but the home team had the break they needed  after 74 minutes.

Bolton scored following a corner to the far post which was headed back into the middle by central defender David Wheater. The cross flew over Bamba’s head and the ball struck him on the hand from Wheater’s return.

The referee had no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot and Gary Madine fired the winner.

That goal came against the run of play at a time when Cardiff were gaining the upper hand and clearly rocked the visitors.

Manager Neil Warnock sent on the creative Lee Tomlin for Loic Damour in a bid to open up the Bolton defence and the Bluebirds aimed for a big finish.

Bolton made it 2-0 after 88 minutes when Madine collected a pass from Noone and set up Vela for the second goal.

It was a bitterly disappointing defeat which left left the impression battling Bolton wanted it as a team that little bit more than the Bluebirds.

Bolton Wanderers: Alnwick, Little, Wheater, Beevers, A Taylor, Pratley, Henry, Ameobi, Vela, Buckley (Noone 60), Madine (Wilbraham 90+3). Subs not used: Robinson, Cullen, Armstrong, Burke, Turner.

Cardiff City: Etheridge, Peltier, Manga, Bamba, Bennett, Halford, Mendez-Laing, Damour (Tomlin 74, replaced by Feeney 90+4), Ralls, Hoilett, Bogle (Zohore 66). Subs not used: Pilkington, Connolly, Paterson, Murphy.

Referee: Darren Bond.

Attendance: 15,344.