report in full. seems more balanced Barnsley 1-2 Cardiff Barnsley were given a harsh lesson about life in the Coca-Cola Championship as first-half goals from Joe Ledley and Steve Thompson handed Cardiff an opening-day victory. Andy Ritchie's men returned to the second tier after a four-year absence following their penalty shoot-out victory in last season's League One play-off final against Swansea. But two clinical goals in a blistering three-minute spell midway through the opening period effectively secured Cardiff the points. The Tykes produced a spirited response which saw Brian Howard net an early contender for goal of the season with an acrobatic scissors-kick from 18 yards on 31 minutes. n equally enthralling second half saw both teams hit the woodwork and Bluebirds skipper Darren Purse have a 55th-minute penalty saved by Nick Colgan. An equaliser for Barnsley would not have been undeserved, but Cardiff were left to toast a victory which was particularly sweet for debutants and Barnsley old-boys Stephen McPhail and Michael Chopra. Chopra arrived at Ninian Park during the summer from Newcastle but remains a popular figure at Barnsley after he scored 17 goals during a profitable loan spell at Oakwell during the 2004-05 campaign. The same cannot be said of midfielder McPhail, who quit Barnsley for Cardiff on a free transfer during the summer because he felt the Bluebirds were a bigger club. The potential within Dave Jones' side was evident from the outset and Chopra came close to opening the scoring after nine minutes. Strike partner Thompson shrugged off the attention of Antony Kay and scampered clear down the right flank before finding Chopra unmarked on the edge of the 18-yard box. The striker took one touch to control the ball and rifle a low shot narrowly wide of Colgan's right-hand post. Barnsley struggled to gain a foothold on proceedings and did not threaten Cardiff until the 15th minute when Marc Richards blazed Howard's cross over the bar. Four minutes later, though, Cardiff went ahead after Chopra raced on to Riccardo Scimeca's fine pass and cut the ball across the face of goal to Ledley, who tapped home at the far post. Three minutes later, the Bluebirds extended their lead when Ledley crossed from the left and Thompson buried a delightful left-foot volley from the edge of the box. Yet the Tykes responded positively and when Howard took Michael McIndoe's cross on his chest and fired in an overhead kick shortly after the half hour mark, they were right back in it. Indeed, midfielder Paul Hayes should have done better than fire wide when clean through on 53 minutes before Cardiff came within inches of extending their lead. Ledley struck the post from distance with a rasping left-foot strike and on 55 minutes, Bobby Hassell's tackle on Scimeca earned Cardiff a penalty. But Purse's low spot-kick was superbly saved by Colgan, who flung himself to his left to keep the Tykes in the game. Barnsley continued to probe and Richards somehow contrived to volley against the bar from just six yards but Cardiff - who brought on new signings Kevin Campbell and Willo Flood - hung on for victory.
