It has had a major impact - City may only have climbed to 8th but a seemingly hopeless gap of 5 points under Alan Cork separating The Bluebirds and the Top 6 is now reduced to a single point and those Millennium Stadium play-off dreams are alive. More importantly, there is confidence and belief from the players and the fans, something that evaporated under before Cork's departure.

Whilst the support is buzzing again, nobody should be getting too carried away. You can only beat what is in front of you and City did that but remember that all Lennie and the team have achieved so far is to beat 3 of the bottom 5 in Bury, Cambridge and Northampton. All were poor teams too although Northampton were better than the others and look more likely to survive at this level.

The style of football under Lawrence has been far from been convincing either, City have scrapped and scraped their way to victory and been under the cosh for periods in each of these matches but the organisation, tactics, bottle, battle, commitment and thought are infinitely better.

Northampton had few, if any, shots at Neil Alexander once City decided to hold on to what they had. It remains to be seen whether better teams and bigger tests will have get the same results, we're about to find out. Take away the significance of the result and the burst of 3 goals in 5 first-half minutes after a 'nervy' City start and this was one of the most boring matches of the season, only the tension of the occasion made it feel otherwise.

Sixfields is a good standard small second/third division style all seater stadium built and owned by the local council in a natural bowl surround a a number of bars, restaurants and cinemas on the surrounding hill. The ground is 4 narrow stands, City's 1,300 sold out following were behind one goal and in a section to its side. The Northampton following didn't look too impressive elsewhere and the crowd of almost 5,500 surprised me, it didn't look that many.

Some City fans were in other parts of the ground while others stood on the surrounding hill despite Northants police seemingly obsessed with shoddy no purpose fencing. Some was on the hill to stop fans getting full view of the ground and police could be seen moving others on. Did anyone else notice someone stood on the hill watching the game in a Pink Panther costume?

City had to play with a decimated midfield. Inspirational Graham Kavanagh started his 2 match suspension but the just as inspirational Andy Legg took, Mark Bonner was unable to shake off the knee injury which made him depart the last 2 fixtures early but the biggest shock of all, unknown to us until kick-off was Jason Bowen being absent too, apparently having sustained a neck injury training on the eve of the clash. It left The Bluebirds to field a makeshift and lightweight midfield of Paul Brayson and Leyton Maxwell alongside Willie Boland.

At times, it was a real struggle and until City switched to 4-4-2 in the second half, we were getting beaten in this vital department but all worked hard and gave it 110%, credit to them for that. They were bonuses too, City started with 2 front line strikers for the first time in a while with Peter Thorne and on-loan Andy Campbell teamed up.

Campbell had a quiet but promising start. Whilst most people head for the sun in the summer, Campbell, on loan from Middlesborough, looks like he heads to his local North Sea! He is pale, almost anaemic, slight and ginger. But he made an instant and strong impression. Some great touches, bags of pace and Premier class finishing. He will clearly make a difference while Earnie has an enforced absence. If City give him the ball in space, he will terrorise.

Northampton climbed out of the relegation zone for the first time all season in midweek, lost only twice in their previous 10 games including beating Brentford, Bristol City away and drawing with Stoke recently. They were apparently being watched by John Fashanu who wants to buy the club and, on the pitch, they had a useful forward line with the pocket sized Marco Gabbiadini, the midget Jamie Forrester and ex-Forest player Paul McGregor, no friend of Andy Legg for those who remember Plymouth last season.

They showed their confidence whilst City took a long time to settle. Alexander made a couple of smart but routine saves, City scrambled the ball away a couple of times but Gabbiadini should have scored as the ball fell to him unmarked 10 yards from goal, his effort was blazed over the bar.

All this in the opening 10 minutes while City adjusted to the changes, especially the enforced ones in midfield. Kavanagh was undoubtedly being missed but so was Bowen's pace and invention and Bonner's presence. Brayson and Maxwell worked hard though with Maxwell prominent. City's early attacks all came from Josh Low's pace but he failed to have an end product with wayward passing or crossing and one fluffed shot. City's only chance didn't arrive until nearly 20 minutes as a crisp move saw Willie Boland hit a neat shot held by Keith Welch above his head.

Campbell had his first glimpse of goal after 20 minutes as a Scott Young flicked header gave him time and space but he snatched at his effort and his poor shot was comfortably wide. Back came Northampton who headed a good chance over, again the effort should have had a better finish.

City were not flowing and frustrations told as Josh Low stupidly kicked the ball away behind the goal after being flagged offside. If Lennie Lawrence's actions match his words, Josh's pay packet will be lighter this week. It could have ben costlier to City as the ref gave him a final warning just before half-time when he caught a Northampton player breaking on halfway.

The game then suddenly burst into life just after the half-hour with the goal burst. City's opener on 32 minutes came from the best move of the match and it came from a ginger headed player - the surprise was that it was Leyton Maxwell not Andy Campbell.

Boland, Campbell, Thorne and Brayson all linked superbly to carve Northampton open on the left side. Thorne played in Brayson behind the defence and he blasted an effort which Welch beat away powerfully but with Northampton still in disarray, MAXWELL shot across Welsh from 20 yards as the ball came out and his effort travelled low into the corner of the net. City fans partied in celebration, Northampton were stunned but just 3 minutes later it was their turn.

It was the first goal City conceded with Lawrence in charge and more than 5 and a half hours but it was sloppy too, hauntingly familiar. Maxwell, the hero went to villain immediately as he hit a sloppy ball across the field that went out for their throw. From that, ball across the area found Hargreaves unmarked. He made a total hash of his shot but it found its way through City's defence for GABBIADINI, also unmarked, to steer home from 6 yards leaving Alexander stranded and defenders stunned, some appealing for offside in vain. City's marking was slack and found wanting.

City fans had hardly finished sending texts to mates on mobiles saying it was 1-0, before they had to say it was 1-1 and now they had to text or call absent mates again to say it was 2-1 as the Bluebirds regained the lead within 90 seconds!

A simple ball by Brayson behind and over Northampton's defence gave Andy CAMPBELL the chance to show what he can do as he raced clear, took a touch to compose himself and as he entered the area on the right side, he smashed an effort across Welch and in off the far post. A basic goal, an outstanding finish. Campbell endeared himself more by doing the ayatollah to City fans.

It gave Campbell the confidence boost he needed as moments later, he sped away again to be cynically brought down by a chasing defender. He wasn't the last in line though so got away with a yellow card. It gave City the second free-kick from the range Kavanagh loves. Leggy drove the first into the wall, Boland hit a weak effort this time.

Half-time: Northampton 1 City 2

The 2nd half was backs-to-the-wall, tense and tedious watching. City hung on, got some luck but Northampton weren't quite good enough to open City again.

If Northampton are The Cobblers, their no 6 bald headed defender, Spedding, lived up to the name by being the worst defender I've seen all season. He couldn't handle Low but given very little to do, he still passed badly and his only tactic seemed to be hoofing the ball 30 yards ahead of him no matter where he was. Low nearly took advantage as he turned him inside out early in the half but blasted well over when Peter Thorne was better placed. Josh's pace again caused problems but he still loses all composure too frequently once he gets near the penalty area.

But it was now one way traffic towards City's goal. Northampton were overrunning City, in midfield especially, but crucially, when they got close to goal, City's defence held firm and kept them at bay. It wasn't pretty to watch but it was effective ... just.

There was a major escape just before the hour on the one occasion Northampton cut through City, Forrester hit a great shot over Alexander but Leggy was outstanding in clearing with a back header off the line, it was as significant as the goals at the other end.

City were struggling and had to adjust. Lennie Lawrence got it right by bringing on Spencer Prior for the fading Paul Brayson on 66 minutes. City switched to 4-4-2 with Gabbidon moving to the left side of defence and while life was not much more comfortable, City were tighter and held out with few real moments of concern afterwards.

Asamoah came on as sub and was very dangerous but seemed to want to beat the whole City defence on his own, it was never going to happen. Forrester shot narrowly over, Sampson had a yellow card for a late challenge which caught Alexander racing out to get a through ball. But that was about it for all their possession, you really have to give credit to City's defensive organisation and steel for seeing it through.

The longer the game went on, the more comfortable City eventually became. In fact, the game was seen out to applause and cheers as Leo gave everything in a 15 minute sub appearance bringing the ball down to our end, holding it in corners and making sure Northampton knew he was on the pitch. He has limited effect over 90 minutes but seems perfect for these occasions, a supersub. Another late sub saw Michael Simpkins replace Danny Gabbidon who limped away badly and must be a doubt for games this week, hope not though.

In the 3 minutes of added time, City thought they sealed things with a third goal. Peter Thorne, still getting back to match fitness and real form, headed home well after another superb Leggy run and cross but he was disallowed for being offside.

The final whistle had Leggy lead all the players to us for deserved applause. Northampton can legitimately argue they deserved a point but not if they don't put shots on goal, they don't. Some could say it was a lucky 3 points for City but I'll take it when I think of how many we've thrown away this season.

The fun still wasn't over. Northants police decided to exhibit their 2nd worthless fence of the day as gates outside the away end stopped coaches and fans leaving. A small pocket of Northampton fans thought it be fun to gesture the other side until City fans noticed that everything was open land to the left to the gates so everyone walked around, the Northampton fans soon disappeared as they did and the police were rightly condemned for stupidly holding everyone back.

Still, it's football that mattered. We got the result we needed. City's next task is to make this week's home games (QPR on Tuesday and Blackpool on Saturday). Do well in those and we will be in the play-off frame and a strong position in 7 days. Now who would have thought that after the 4-0 embarrassment and mid-table obscurity just 14 days ago??

This was only the third match in charge for new City boss Lennie Lawrence, and so far the popular much-travelled manager has proved a lucky talisman.

This was the first time this season that Cardiff had reeled off three wins on the bounce.

Cardiff's first-ever win at the Sixfields Stadium was also a success story for new loan-signing Andy Campbell. The Middlesbrough forward, denied the chance to make his debut at Huddersfield in the week, landed running with the crucial 37th minute match-winner.

The visitors had gone in front five minutes earlier when Peter Thorne's close-range effort was blocked by Keith Welch in the home goal, only for the ball to rebound to Leyton Maxwell who fired his first of the season.

But three minutes later Northampton were level. Although Christian Hargreaves made a hash of the initial chance, the ball ran sweetly for Marco Gabbiadini who had the simplest of tasks to fire in his seventh of the campaign.

Gabbiadini owed his side that much, after a glaring early miss and Cobblers boss Kevan Broadhurst admitted: "Marco could have had a hat-trick today."

Lawrence was the happier of the two managers but said: "We need to be in the top six next Saturday to give us a realistic chance of the play-offs as we have an imbalance of home and away matches after that."

Cardiff could consider themselves a shade fortunate to bag all the points. Apart from the Gabbiadini chances, Jamie Forrester was only denied in the 58th minute by the goal-line headed clearance of City skipper Andy Legg after a neat curling shot had threatened to equalise.

Northampton threw caution to the wind in the closing stages. They threw on defender Ian Sampson to beef up an attack missing the physical presence of the injured Sam Parkin, as well as tricky forward Derek Asamoah but despite a healthy tally of goal attempts, they lacked quality in the final third