CARDIFF City returned to Divsion Two action with a comfortable 2-1 victory over Stockport County, with goals from Robert Earnshaw and City skipper Graham Kavanagh.
A 55th-second glancing header by Earnshaw set the tone for an impressive City win, with Kavanagh adding the second after Luke Beckett had levelled matters on the 16th minute mark.
Earnshaw gave City and himself the perfect start as he chased former England player and Stockport manager Carlton Palmer into a mis-take, Palmer conceding a corner.
The corner, taken by Graham Kavanagh and involving Andy Legg, saw the City skipper sweeping the ball out to Gareth Whalley, who chipped the ball into the danger area.
Earnshaw, the smallest man on the pitch, headed past local boy Lee Jones after just 55 seconds.
Earnshaw forced himself into Lennie Lawrence's starting line-up for the first-time in the League this season after a midweek hat-trick in 5-1 win over Boston United in the Worthington Cup.
Earnshaw's introduction meant that Andy Campbell had to do with a place on the subsitutes' bench along with Layton Maxwell, Leo Fortune-West, Des Hamilton and 'keeper Martyn Margetson.
Before the match, there was a minute's silence for former Cardiff City commentator Phil Suarez, who died of cancer earlier this month.
City set the tempo and nearly double the scoreline within eight mintues as Rhys Weston's header was cleared off the line following another well-drilled corner.
Stockport were always going to be a difficult side to get to grips with after just losing one game in their seventh League and Cup encounters this season, and hitting a winning streak in the last four games.
Before this game, just goal difference split Lawrence's men and former England midfielder Palmer's outfit.
Totally against the run of play, Keith Briggs' long and hopeful ball saw City's Spencer Prior slip and County's top scorer, Luke Beckett, kept a cool head and rounded keeper Neil Alexander to slot the ball home after 16 minutes.
Centre-back Danny Gabbidon sent hearts racing as he embarked on a 60-yard run, waltzing past three players and teeing-up a shot on the 18-yard area. But his effort had all the hallmarks of a defender, hitting high and wide.
Gary Croft found space on the left and floated a deep cross at the far post for Peter Thorne, who headed back across the box for Earnshaw to miss the target by inches with a dramatic bicycle-kick.
But City regained the lead seven minutes from the break after Legg's cross found Earnshaw, who laid the ball into the path of Kavanagh, and the captian's shot was deflected into the net. HT: Cardiff City 2, Stockport County 1.
City, who were wearing shirts without a sponsor's name following the collapse of the Ken Thorne Group, started the second-half as they finished the first, forcing County on to the back foot.
It is clear that City's 4-4-2 formation is a more comfortable set-up for the players, but City fans must be more patient in their club's build-up play and not get on the players' back too soon.
This is a quality side finding their way into a new system and trying to find some sort of home rhythm on which to base an assault on the Second Division title.
Layton Maxwell replaced the injured Gareth Whalley at the start of the second half, and the former Liverpool player was always looking to go forward, building from mid-field.
Palmer will be be glad to see the back of pint-sized Earnshaw as the City player tormented the 18-cap England international both on the ground and, strangely, in the air.
County's Aaron Lescott was the third player to go into the referee's book after pulling back Legg on another City attack on 55 minutes, earlier Boland,and Jonathan Daly were cautioned by Andy Hall.
Minutes later, a long clearance from Kavanagh gave Earnshaw a chance to run again and he outpaced the defence to set up Weston, whose right-foot shot brought the best out of 'keeper Jones, who saved to his right.
A super defence-splitting pass by Thorne was collected by Earnshaw and the Welsh international should have scored, but Jones guessed right and saved.
City were now in total control and comfortable for their 2-1 lead as Maxwell sent a bullet-like shot at the County goal, just missing his intended target, on 66 minutes.
Brillant build-up by City, using all the midfield players, saw Weston cross from the right and Thorne hit the the crossbar with a header.
Kavanagh was just inches away from adding to his earlier strike, when he sent his curling free-kick just over the bar, beating the over-worked 'keeper Jones.
With five minutes remaining, Earnshaw had the biggest cheer of the day as he was substituted by Andy Campbell.
Earnshaw proved a point or two to manager Lawrence after not starting a League game in six, but surely he will be in the starting line-up on Tuesday night against Brentford at Ninian Park (7.45pm
(bbc match report)
Robert Earnshaw signalled his return to Cardiff City's starting line-up by scoring a goal after just 60 seconds to send the Bluebirds on their way to victory over Stockport County.
Earnshaw was left unmarked to head a Gareth Whalley cross high into the net.
Luke Beckett equalised totally against the run of play in the 15th minute, but City had the bit between their teeth.
Skipper Graham Kavanagh struck a low shot home in the 38th minute to put the Bluebirds back in front.
The second half was less eventful, but Peter Thorne did hit the visitors' crossbar with a firm header as City pressed for a third.
