Joe Ledley's fine brace set Cardiff on the way to a comfortable 3-1 victory over shell-shocked QPR.
Ledley scored his seventh and eighth goals of a stellar season as the Bluebirds extended their unbeaten run to nine matches in all competitions.
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink was the principal creative force, expertly laying on the young midfielder's second of the evening and feeding Paul Parry for Cardiff's third.
The 35-year-old Dutchman produced a tireless performance as lone striker for 90 minutes until he gave way to Steven Thompson in stoppage-time.
Meanwhile 17-year-old Aaron Ramsey made his full Cardiff debut in the absence of Stephen McPhail.
Midfielder Gavin Mahon replaced Dexter Blackstock in the only change to the Rangers starting line-up.
Parry almost turned his rich vein of form into an immediate reward when he latched onto Peter Whittingham's corner, but Damion Stewart blocked the midfielder's goalbound effort.
Parry was heavily involved in Cardiff's opener, threading the ball through a static QPR defence for Ledley to tap home from six yards out.
Glenn Loovens was a whisker away from doubling the Bluebirds' lead midway through the half, but the Dutchman's header from Whittingham's free-kick missed the upright.
Lee Camp was forced to parry Loovens and Whittingham efforts, and the QPR goalkeeper was fortunate to see Roger Johnson's drilled shot miss his right post on 33 minutes.
Ledley's fine evening continued when Hasselbaink was afforded too much space and set up Ledley for another close-range finish five minutes before the interval.
Johnson should have made it three on the brink of half-time but his header fell just wide.
Rangers manager Luigi De Canio had little choice but to gamble, throwing on Blackstock for defender Matthew Connolly in first-half stoppage-time.
But the Italian must have banished all hopes of a comeback by the hour-mark.
Hasselbaink eluded the Rangers defence on the left once more and crossed for Parry to fire home from just inside the area.
Parry was only denied a second when Camp tipped his rasping shot around the post 10 minutes later.
With a three-goal lead established Cardiff took their foot off the gas, and substitute Hogan Ephraim capitalised with a smart close-range finish after 76 minutes.
Dave Jones' side were further inconvenienced when keeper Michael Oakes had to be withdrawn in the closing stages, to be replaced by on-loan Peter Enckelman.
But Patrick Agyemang could not force Enckelman into a save as Kevin McNaughton charged down the big striker's goalbound effort.
Ledley scored his seventh and eighth goals of a stellar season as the Bluebirds extended their unbeaten run to nine matches in all competitions.
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink was the principal creative force, expertly laying on the young midfielder's second of the evening and feeding Paul Parry for Cardiff's third.
The 35-year-old Dutchman produced a tireless performance as lone striker for 90 minutes until he gave way to Steven Thompson in stoppage-time.
Meanwhile 17-year-old Aaron Ramsey made his full Cardiff debut in the absence of Stephen McPhail.
Midfielder Gavin Mahon replaced Dexter Blackstock in the only change to the Rangers starting line-up.
Parry almost turned his rich vein of form into an immediate reward when he latched onto Peter Whittingham's corner, but Damion Stewart blocked the midfielder's goalbound effort.
Parry was heavily involved in Cardiff's opener, threading the ball through a static QPR defence for Ledley to tap home from six yards out.
Glenn Loovens was a whisker away from doubling the Bluebirds' lead midway through the half, but the Dutchman's header from Whittingham's free-kick missed the upright.
Lee Camp was forced to parry Loovens and Whittingham efforts, and the QPR goalkeeper was fortunate to see Roger Johnson's drilled shot miss his right post on 33 minutes.
Ledley's fine evening continued when Hasselbaink was afforded too much space and set up Ledley for another close-range finish five minutes before the interval.
Johnson should have made it three on the brink of half-time but his header fell just wide.
Rangers manager Luigi De Canio had little choice but to gamble, throwing on Blackstock for defender Matthew Connolly in first-half stoppage-time.
But the Italian must have banished all hopes of a comeback by the hour-mark.
Hasselbaink eluded the Rangers defence on the left once more and crossed for Parry to fire home from just inside the area.
Parry was only denied a second when Camp tipped his rasping shot around the post 10 minutes later.
With a three-goal lead established Cardiff took their foot off the gas, and substitute Hogan Ephraim capitalised with a smart close-range finish after 76 minutes.
Dave Jones' side were further inconvenienced when keeper Michael Oakes had to be withdrawn in the closing stages, to be replaced by on-loan Peter Enckelman.
But Patrick Agyemang could not force Enckelman into a save as Kevin McNaughton charged down the big striker's goalbound effort.
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