1,700 City fans enjoy the Chesterfield sunshine

The inner belief in every player and the team collectively since Lennie Lawrence's arrival is incredible. The Bluebirds are now undefeated in 8 league games under his management and it's 20 points out of 24 since Alan Cork (thankfully!) went. The only worrying matter is that it must be inevitable that Lennie will be named Division 2's Manager of the month for March. We really don't need that jinx going into the crucial final weeks - please give it to someone else!!!

For the 3nd successive match, Lennie had the luxury of naming a powerful, unchanged attack-minded team who were far too good for their opponents. They came together because of some many injuries but how effective they've proved, 9 points and 12 goals says it all.

Good as they have been, our totally changed sub's bench was incredible. Bonner and Earnie back from injury to join Paul Brayson along with new Premier loans signings, England U-21 keeper Stephen Bywater from West Ham and defender/wing back/bad boy Gary Croft from Ipswich. City mean business - it's not the City I'm used to but I love it!

Chesterfield is a small Derbyshire town with an in-bred small town mentality about it. The townfolk are probably fine, especially Joanne Guest!, but it has more than its fair share of nutters who saw the visit of Cardiff City fans as its greatest event of the year. Coaches were held in lay-bys outside the town before the game and there were incidents, mainly caused by home fans from what I could see, before and after the match but all was fine inside Saltergate.

It's a crumbling stadium. One pitch length terrace is closed leaving a covered terrace behind one goal and an old stand on another side for the home fans and a section of that stand and a sizeable open ended terrace behind the goal for City fans. Last season, City fans will recall never having been so wet after a game as we stood in the face of a 90 minute storm, today, all we needed on the terrace was ice creams and sun tan lotion. The change in weather was in keeping with the in difference between the teams current stature.

Two years ago, City visited Chesterfield who were already doomed to Div 3 relegation. City were on the edge of going down too but buoyed by the "big money" signing of Kurt Nogan. Nogan was a failure, the "big money" we spent then is pocket money today in CCFC terms, we drew and were relegated too.

Last season, Chesterfield were Cheaterfield but still allowed to be promoted. City did things properly. We drew again and were promoted with them. Michael Simpkins impressed Alan Cork that day that Alan Cork got him for this season. Chesterfield fans laughed silly when we asked if they'd like him back!

And now ... Chesterfield have no money and regard surviving in Div 2 as major success. City have spent millions and will regard missing the play-offs and, maybe, Div 1 as failure. The huge gulf told.

Cardiff took the game to Chesterfield, blew them away. 2-0 doesn't really do their dominance justice. They almost put themselves out of reach in the opening half hour then, possibly due to a combination of knowing they play again 48 hours later and confident that Chesterfield weren't good enough to strike back, they held onto what they had. Not pretty football, some anxious moments but good enough on the day and that was all that mattered.

In the opening period, Cardiff were so far ahead, it was frighteningly one sided. Gone is the mid-table obscurity under Cork to a team who many now feel have some destiny to be in the play offs, a hometown Millennium Stadium final and Division 1 bound in just 6 weeks - what a transformation.

Cardiff could, maybe should, have opened the scoring in the opening 90 seconds. An Andy Legg throw, contested in the air by Peter Throne and the ball fell invitingly for Andy Campbell, now a £900k permanent Bluebird on the volley. With the goal exposed, admittedly with some players around, Campbell snatched and blasted a couple of yards over. Moments later, Willie Boland shot wide.

It was temporary respite for Chesterfield, the goal came on 8 minutes and a beauty too. City won a corner after a Leo run, Kav swung it low and DANNY GABBIDON facing away from goal back-heeled it low from 15 yards. It somehow squirmed into the far corner, passing through 3 or 4 Chesterfield players, Leo's legs and Peter Thorne's boot. What a week for Gabbi, 2 City goals and an excellent Welsh debut.

Leo claimed the goal but wicked rumours that the Queen Mother was so shocked to hear Leo had scored that she had a relapse are denied … allegedly.

About this time, the terrace reacted as off the field as news came in that Bristol City were 2 down at home in 5 minutes. Some fans rang home to check with mates who had teletext, by the time they did, it was 2-2, celebrations turned to groans. There was also as much interest in Bristol City as Cardiff, guess this is how it'll be for the next few games until the final outcome is known. Wild celebrations came again when we heard they were now losing 3-2, false rumours suggested they were 4-2 and 5-2 behind by half-time, it was gutting to know it was still 3-2.

But on the field, City were more than doing their bit. Two headers were cleared off the line within 2 minutes, Young was denied, Campbell's follow up effort was handled on the line by the same player but the ref ruled accidental with 1,700 voices screaming "HANDBALLLLLLL!!!". Then a Thorne header from a Kav cross was denied by the same defender.

At this stage, a repeat of Oldham looked possible. The Sprite's keeper, Nathan Abbey, was having such a torrid time that the City faithful crooned, "Cheer up, Goram's worse than you".

On 23 minutes, a blow. Andy Legg pulled up with what looked like a dead leg, rather than hamstring, hope I'm right. He signalled immediately that his game was over, Mark Bonner replaced him. Bonns was fantastic, high energy but some balance was lost without Legg wide left and City lost something from their game.

But they were irrepressible and couldn't be denied. Chesterfield were doing all they could to hang on, it seemed a matter of time before The Bluebirds scored again, the surprise was that it took as long as half-hour.

City cut them open as Kav strode through two challenges, Thorne turned on the edge of the area and lost his marker but Abbey blocked his low effort. Then 2-0.

The rejuvenated Leo Fortune-West surely playing the best football of his spell at City, maybe his whole career, received the ball wide, passed a defender and clipped over a superb left foot cross. Thorne and a defender ran in, the ball was blocked between them and the ball ran across goal. The rest was Andy Campbell justifying his fee and showing he is a high class operator as he showed composure and calmness belonging above this level.

Instead of instinctively shooting, most would have, CAMPBELL steered the ball around one defender, found a better angle and stroked the ball home from the centre of goal 10 yards out past 2 defenders and Abbey for his 5th goal in 7 City games.

Glorious football on the pitch, pandemonium on the terrace as a mass hug and celebration started, City fans out of control in ecstasy, you knew this was won deep inside. By my reckoning, this was a celebration of 1,700 fans, 1,000 pairs of sunglasses, 400 in some item of Burberry something, 50 pairs of shorts followed by 450 mobile phones ringing home with the news.

City needed kill the game off but they also knew they didn't need to take risks. It was up to Chesterfield to change the game, they tried to muscle, huff and puff but they just weren't good enough.

It meant a fairly dull, sometimes nervy final hour but it was job done. City were never quite as effective again, Chesterfield occasionally looked dangerous but, in reality, Alexander only had 1 or 2 moments of worry.

Half-Time: Chesterfield 0 City 2 (and Brizzle Zity 2, Reading 3)

The 15 minute break had some cracking entertainment. Chesterfield had the tired routine of Little Girl Cheerleaders (they still haven't learned that clubs have done it for 15 years over here and nobody, except their parents, care). But this was pretty good, they didn't seem to have any music!

City fans meanwhile were greeted by the sight of giant on loan keeper Stephen Bywater have a kickabout with Earnie. The Prince of Wales shooting at "England's No 1" as City fans dubbed him. Earnie scored an awesome goal when he put his right boot around his left leg and flicked into the corner of goal from 25 yards. I tried it and can't kick the ball more than 10 yards! Never have I seen a half-time kickabout goal greeted with so much astonishment and applause. The rest of his shots were rubbish though! Bywater, Earnie and the fans loved it though.

The 2nd half was never as good as the half-time kickabout. The game went through the motions.

City twice came close to adding to their tally in the opening 7 minutes. Firstly Bonner tried an effort, Abbey saved but next, Peter Thorne, after a Bonner run, broke strongly past a marker, got clear and smacked the bar from 15 yards, so unlucky.

The rest of the game was a blur really, I don't think City had anymore worthwhile efforts. Chesterfield created very little of note either but there were let offs.

Hurst tried a shot from 20 yards which Alexander nearly fluffed, he pushed the ball wide but it bounced in front of him and just caught his fingertips, not a stinging shot but it hurt his fingers.

Then a disallowed goal. Chesterfield tried a long throw, a defender flicked on and Hurst turned home. The Chesterfield tannoy turned on their goal celebration music but failed to notice the linesman flagging for a foul on Scott Young.

With 20 minutes to go, Willie Boland, another excellent game, furthered his hero status by heading off the line as O'Hare powerfully met a corner. This would have been a goal in Alan Cork days, the ex-boss famously would not put players on goal posts for corners and set pieces, a ploy which came unstuck as Wigan scored all 4 from set pieces in his final match in charge.

City's looked a little too relaxed at times but got through with no further woes. Defence work effectively to produce their first clean sheet in 6 league games and 11th of the season. Gary Croft appeared for the final 15 minutes in place of Scott Young, concentrated on the basics, and did them all fine.

Midfield are performing really well, it is the platform on which the current success is built. And we just seem to have too much for other teams when we attack ... and we still have Earnie and Jason Bowen to come back!

It's all about 3's right now. A season in which Alan Cork was simply unable to produce 3 successive wins has seen Lennie Lawrence achieve the feat twice in his first 8 games! This was City's 3rd successive away win too.

And unless Bristol City win their final 4 games (two against Brighton and Stoke), 3 wins in the final 5 games (or 9 points) is the maximum we'll need to get in the play-offs. It all looks good, just hope it's the same way after Port Vale on Monday.

The only drawbacks to the whole afternoon will be that knock to Leggy, hopefully not serious, and a couple of bookings for Leo and Boland taking them very close to 2 match suspensions.

Easter Holiday periods have the habit of sorting out the end of season destiny of teams. Don't book your holiday in early May because our destiny and dream is very much alive.

For much of this one-sided contest, the Bluebirds looked a team heading for a higher division although there were moments in the second-half when they were not quite so composed.

Chesterfield lost key defender Ian Breckin with flu and an in-experienced backline could not cope with the awkward Leo Fortune-West and speedy Andy Campbell.

The biggest question concerned the opening goal. Daniel Gabbidon claimed it after his back heel fooled everyone, but Fortune-West also staked a claim.

Lawrence was also unsure as to who should get the credit but there was no arguing about the second, which was neatly put away by Campbell on the half-hour.

If the opener had been messy - Gabbidon's back heel from a Graham Kavanagh corner bobbled its way over the line.

Campbell's was clinically taken after he moved across the face of goal before driving a low shot into the bottom left-hand corner.

Once again, Nathan Abbey was left exposed and he was beaten again in the 52nd minute when Thorne muscled his way into the penalty area but shot against the bar.

Chesterfield made a change bringing on the experienced defender Steve Blatherwick and they appeared to have pulled one back in the 63rd minute only for their celebrations to be cut short by the referee's decision to award a free-kick for pushing.

Chesterfield boss Dave Rushbury felt the goal should have stood although he had no overall complaints about the outcome. He said: "They were better than us. It was in-experienced defending against a front line that cost a few bob but in fairness their whole team is strong."

Lawrence is still eyeing the second spot although he admits it would take a slip by Brighton to let his team in.

"I've still got my eye on second place but if Brighton win on Monday it will make it difficult. "But overall it's been another good day for us and we made four clear-cut chances apart from the goals so that's also good."