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Defeat to Nottingham Forest sealed the first back-to-back league defeats of the season for Cardiff City

Nottingham Forest moved to within three points of the automatic promotion places thanks to a notable 1-0 victory at Cardiff City.

Forest became only the second visiting side to win at the Cardiff City Stadium in the Championship this season thanks to Tiago Silva's goal.

The Portuguese midfielder met Lewis Grabban's cross to steer home his third of the season early in the second half.

Sabri Lamouchi's team held on to claim a first win in four league games to move above Fulham into third and keep themselves firmly in the hunt for the top two.

For Cardiff, a second successive defeat means their play-off hopes are fading with 11 games of the season remaining.

Cardiff have been a formidable force on their own ground this season, and they began with purpose as Robert Glatzel shot wide and Callum Paterson headed straight at Forest goalkeeper Brice Samba.

But the visitors took control of the contest as the first period wore on and created enough opportunities to go in front.

Sammy Ameobi saw a couple of shots saved by Alex Smithies, while Ryan Yates skied his effort after being picked out by the lively Matty Cash.

Joe Lolley was another threat down the Forest right, and his low cross opened Cardiff up only for leading scorer Grabban to shoot narrowly wide.

The Bluebirds felt they should have had a spot-kick just before the break, but referee Stephen Martin waved away their appeals after Cash tangled with Josh Murphy.

The breakthrough came on 49 minutes, with Silva feeding Grabban down the right flank and then racing into the box to guide home from Grabban's low centre.

Without the injured Lee Tomlin, Cardiff were struggling for a spark going forward as Will Vaulks lashed wide and Danny Ward shot too close to Samba with the angle tight.

Forest wasted a chance to seal the points when Alfa Semedo's shot was blocked by Joe Bennett but despite some pressure, there was to be no late Cardiff comeback.

Cardiff manager Neil Harris said:

"The difference between the teams? The goal - the quality in the penalty area, the composure, the good finish.

"We definitely got a response from Saturday. There's loads I am pleased with as a manager but ultimately we didn't win the game.

"The penalty decision goes against us. In real time I thought it was a penalty. It's a penalty. The player makes the challenge from the wrong side - it has to be a foul.

"We got into some great areas - it's just that composure and that quality in the final third. That's the difference between Forest being nine points in front of us tonight rather than three."

Nottingham Forest head coach Sabri Lamouchi said:

"I am happy of course. Three points here is not easy. It's a difficult pitch and a difficult team.

"End of February to come to Cardiff and play against this team and take three points - it is not easy to do it.

"I think we deserve this victory. We controlled the game more in the first half but we missed a lot in the final third - the last pass, the last touch.

"Three points, one goal, clean sheet - great performance. Congratulations to the lads for the commitment."