WHAT WE LEARNED FROM THE BLUEBIRDS STALLING TRACTOR BOYS

CARDIFF City secured their Championship status for next season with a glorious victory over Ipswich Town at Cardiff City Stadium.

Kenenth Zohore was the hero once again, striking two goals either side of the break, while Joe Bennett slotted home his first goal in Bluebirds colours.

Luke Chambers had put the visitors ahead with an early header, but it was all Cardiff from that moment onwards.

Neil Warnock’s side move to 51 points with eight games to spare and could now target a top 10 finish.

Here are five things we learned from the win... IS THIS THE SAME TEAM? THIS observer has seen Cardiff flounder at home on too many occasions. There was a forgettable 1-0 defeat to lowly Wigan Athletic, a bore draw with Brighton and a 1-0 win over the limited Burton Albion which came courtesy of a last gasp goal from a debutant (Rhys Healey).

This was entirely different, as Warnock’s team selection bore fruit in dramatic fashion.

The Yorkshireman is often misconstrued as a defensive boss with a penchant for no-nonsense football.

But placing the adventurous Jazz Richards and Joe Bennett in the full back positions, with Craig Noone, Junior Hoilett and Kadeem Harris in an attacking midfield trio that boasted endeavour and skill in abundance, doesn’t fit that narrative.

Simply put, Warnock wants Cardiff to score goals. This was arguably their best performance under the wily manager. ZOHORE WINS THE BATTLE AGAIN LAWRENCE STRIKERS can often steal the show in football, but these two have rightly been grabbing headlines in recent weeks for their enterprising forward play.

It was nip and tuck in the first half. Zohore whizzed a shot narrowly wide in the first five minutes and Lawrence dazzled on an early solo run that should have brought a goal, only for Allan McGregor to save superbly from David McGoldrick.

The big Dane got more opportunities to burst forward as the game wore on and emerged as the clear winner from the titanic duel. Lawrence did provide the kind of set piece delivery we’re used to seeing from Peter Whittingham in the first half. It was a teasing outswinging free-kick that was begging to be nodded home. Luke Chambers duly did.

Zohore wasn’t going to be outdone though. His first-time volleyed finish to level the scores on 36 minutes showed a real finisher’s touch.

And the second, after Junior Hoilett’s delightful flick was never in doubt. He caressed the ball home to send the Bluebirds fans into raptures. UNCHARACTERISTIC ERRORS SET pieces? No, Cardiff don’t concede goals from set pieces.

But on this occasion, they did. Chambers’ desire and Lawrence’s quality combined to unpick a Bluebirds’ defence that is usually so solid when defending dead ball situations. Granted, Lawrence’s free kick was superb, bent in with dip and accuracy, but Warnock will have been incensed to see his back four concede that kind of goal.

History could have repeated itself shortly after the interval when McGoldrick ghosted in at the back post but - thankfully for Cardiff - fluffed his lines. Warnock will have been delighted to see the Bluebirds’ back four shore up after the interval. MORE ENTERTAINING THAN EXPECTED WITH a blustery wind flying around Cardiff City Stadium on a grey March afternoon, nobody expected this to be an eye-catching clash. Plus the Tractor Boys came into the clash having drawn six games in succession, five of them 1-1 and the other 0-0. Cardiff’s home displays have often been dour and drab as well, so to see both sides approach an enthralling first half with ambition and courage was refreshing.

The Bluebirds’ attacking intent was over-flowing, with Noone, Harris and Hoilett causing all sorts of problems in behind the robust Zohore. Ipswich’s direct counterattacking was hardly conservative either and could have easily scored more. The result was a cracking spectacle, a microcosm of which was Hoilett’s nonchalant flick to feed Zohore for the Dane’s sublime second. THE TOUCHLINE SOAP OPERA WITH Warnock and McCarthy patrolling the touchline, the technical areas provided some drama. Warnock was furious with referee James Linnington for a couple of soft first-half free kicks, one of which led to the Chambers’ goal.

The referee gave as good as he got and wasn’t afraid to confront Warnock when the Cardiff boss made his opinion crystal clear.

McCarthy was the calmer of the two, but was seemingly unable to stem the tide of Bluebirds’ pressure.