LIFT OFF...Ellington blasts Albion ahead against Cardiff

SUPER-SUB Nathan Ellington fired Albion to within a point of leaders Derby with a sensational 66^th-minute winner which ended promotion-rivals Cardiff's five-game unbeaten run.

It was going to take something special to beat Cardiff's brilliant keeper Neil Alexander who, like opposite number Dean Kiely, pulled off a string of fine saves to keep an exhilarating first-half goalless.

But Ellington found that elusive X-factor with a stunning 20-yard finish which gave City's No.1 no chance - his first goal since his Boxing Day double saw off Preston.

Albion were made to work hard for their tenth home victory in 11 games and the relief inside The Hawthorns at the final whistle was tangible as the hosts stretched their unbeaten run to ten matches.

Tony Mowbray rang one enforced change from Saturday's FA Cup draw at Middlesbrough, with Martin Albrechtsen earning his first start in ten matches, replacing banned skipper Curtis Davies.

Left-back Paul Robinson was handed the armband while John Hartson returned to the bench.

Cardiff were blunted by the absence of suspended trio Michael Chopra, the Championship's 19-goal top scorer, Glenn Loovens and Simon Walton, plus injured ex-Albion duo Darren Purse and Riccy Scimeca.

But there was a warm welcome back from the home hordes for ex-Baggies skipper Kevin Campbell, who was named on the City bench.

Albion started the day three points better off than Cardiff as third hosted seventh.

The Baggies immediately pushed the Bluebirds onto the back foot by winning two early corners, but they amounted to nothing.

Alexander was called into action as soon as the third minute when a flowing Albion move set up a shooting chance for Robert Koren.

JUMPING FOR JOY...Ellington celebrates his winner with skipper-for-the-day Robinson

The Slovenian international took aim from 25 yards and saw his stinging left-footed drive brilliantly palmed away by the City shot-stopper.

But Cardiff also went agonisingly close to taking the lead in the seventh minute.

Former Rangers striker Steven Thompson ghosted in at the far post to meet Peter Whittingham's left-wing corner but failed to hit the target with an eight-yard downward header.

Albion had another scary moment in the 11^th minute when Diomansy Kamara failed to clear Paul Parry's cheeky low free-kick into the Baggies box.

The ball broke kindly for Thompson but he fired high and wide on the turn.

The Baggies were soon back on the attack when good work by Koren and Kevin Phillips teed up former Cardiff loan signing Jason Koumas.

Unfortunately, the Welsh wizard failed to trouble Alexander's goal as he fired wide from a tight angle when he may have been better served squaring to a team-mate in the box.

Albion created a great chance in the 17^th minute when the impressive Koren controlled Koumas' exquisite cross-field pass and centred.

Phillips helped the ball on, only for Richard Chaplow to blaze wide from close range.

Back came Cardiff and Kiely, on his 600^th league appearance, showed great reflexes to palm away Jason Byrne's acute volley from ex-Villa man Whittingham's terrific left-wing cross.

The game was now flowing from end to end and it was Albion who threatened next.

RETURN OF A LEGEND...'Super Bob' Taylor was upstaged in crossbar challenge by family friend and Hollyhedge Primary pupil Brad Rourke, aged nine, who became first youngster to hit target twice in two attempts

Kamara's mazy run resulted in Phillips threading Koumas in on the left, but the ex-Tranmere man's first-time shot lacked real power and Alexander saved low to his left.

Albion thought they had broken the deadlock in the 24^th minute when Phillips headed home Koumas' free-kick, only for the Baggies' goal joy to be nipped in the bud by an offside flag.

City had another let off in the 29^th minute when Kevin McNaughton failed to clear Robinson's low cross.

Phillips summoned all of his battling qualities to win the loose ball and create enough room for a shot, but his close-range effort was superbly blocked by Alexander.

In keeping with the game's ebb and flow, Whittingham went close at the other end when he curled the ball just wide from 20 yards after neat interplay between Stephen McPhail and Joe Ledley.

And Albion had a real let off in bizarre 36^th-minute circumstances.

Kiely's routine clearance smacked straight into Thompson.

The ball broke kindly for the Cardiff striker who sent an instinctive 25-yard volley back over the helpless Kiely - and against the Baggies bar.

Seconds later, City centre-half Roger Johnson powered a towering header from Whittingham's corner inches over the bar.

Albion surged straight up the other end and Koren burst between two Cardiff defenders before seeing a right-foot curler expertly clawed away by the impressive Alexander.

The City keeper then showed a great pair of hands to push Kamara's ferocious 20-yard drive over the bar.

Alexander again came between Albion and the lead when he held onto Koumas' grass-cutter from the edge of the box following a typical jinking run.

WING WIZARDS...Koumas takes on former Cardiff team-mate Parry

Deep into stoppage-time, Kiely had to be equally alert to push over Whittingham's 20-yard missile.

As the whistle sounded for the interval, both sets of supporters were left wondering how a half which featured 19 efforts on goal remained scoreless.

After a low-key opening to the second period, Albion gradually began to build some momentum and Robinson will feel he should have done better with a free header from Koumas' corner which sailed over the bar.

On the hour-mark, Mowbray made his first throw of the dice as he replaced Phillips and Chaplow with Ellington and John Hartson.

The game had descended into a scrappy affair and after Albion failed to clear their lines several times, Thompson shot harmlessly wide from 20 yards.

But Ellington shattered the stalemate with a 66^th-minute moment of magic.

There seemed little on when the ex-Wigan man controlled Koumas' pass on the left-hand edge of the box.

But the 'Duke' made enough room for a shot and sent a dipping 20-yard screamer flying over Alexander and inside the far top corner of the net.

ALL HART...Sub John keeps McPhail at bay

Cardiff did not take the set-back lying down and Kiely had to produce the save of the game in the 72^nd minute to palm away Thompson's fierce volley from 20 yards.

But Albion played keep ball for long spells to run down the clock and saw off a late, late spell of Cardiff pressure deep into stoppage time to seal a vital victory.  

ALBION (4-4-2): Kiely; Albrechtsen, McShane, Clement, Robinson; Koren, Chaplow (Hartson 60), Greening, Koumas (Carter 70); Phillips (Ellington 60), Kamara. Subs not used: Daniels (gk), Gera.

CARDIFF (4-4-2): Alexander; Gunter, Johnson, McNaughton, Ledley; Blake, McPhail, Parry (Flood 80), Whittingham; Byrne (Redan 71), Thompson (Campbell 86). Subs not used: Forde (gk), Gilbert.

GOALS: ALBION - Ellington (66).

BOOKINGS: CARDIFF - Gunter (persistent fouling, 31).

REFEREE: G Laws (Tyne & Wear).

ATTENDANCE: 18,802.

ALBION STARMAN: Robert Koren.

(PICS BY LAURIE RAMPLING)