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Largie Ramazani's goal was his first for Leeds since joining from Almeria Leeds United strode to a convincing win at the Championship’s bottom side Cardiff City to heap more pressure on Bluebirds manager Erol Bulut on an emotional day in the Welsh capital. There were moving scenes before and during the game as both teams and their supporters paid tribute to Sol Bamba, the former Cardiff and Leeds captain who died last month aged just 39. With the visitors already on top, the Bluebirds’ onerous task was made more difficult when Joel Bagan was sent off after 23 minutes for a foul on Wilfried Gnonto which referee Josh Smith deemed to have denied a goalscoring opportunity. Largie Ramazani’s composed finish put Leeds in front seven minutes later and, were it not for Cardiff goalkeeper Jak Alnwick, the away side would have been out of sight by half-time. Alnwick saved a tame penalty from Pascal Struijk after the break and, although the score did not reflect Leeds’ dominance, a well-taken goal by substitute Joel Piroe added a late gloss. Victory lifts Leeds up to sixth in the Championship table and offers an immediate response to last weekend’s first league defeat of the season at home to Burnley. Cardiff, meanwhile, continue to plumb new depths as their worst start to a league season for 35 years continues, propping up the Championship table with just one point and a solitary goal from their opening six matches. Bulut only signed a new two-year contract in June and said before this match he would “never give up” but his future is out of his hands, particularly when you consider Bluebirds owner Vincent Tan has gone through 11 permanent managers during his 14 years at the club. This was always likely to be one of Cardiff’s tougher fixtures and, although Bulut’s fate will not rest on results against the Championship’s promotion favourites, he is bound to be on unsteady ground after losing five of his six league games so far this season. Pressure is relative to each club, and his counterpart Daniel Farke was not without his critics. Including the end of last season, Leeds had only won four of their previous 15 matches. But Cardiff were no match for the Yorkshire club, who could have ended this contest by half-time. There were chances for Mateo Joseph and Ilia Gruev before Bagan’s red card and, after the Cardiff defender’s dismissal, Leeds continued to rip their opponents apart. Joseph created the opening goal for Ramazani, who cantered through an open defence and neatly curled the ball into the bottom corner. Alnwick was kept busy with saves to deny Joseph, Ramazani and Gruev, and the one-way traffic did not abate in the second half. Brenden Aaronson slid a close-range effort wide from Jayden Bogle’s cross, and it was Bogle who was clumsily tripped by Callum O’Dowda for Leeds’ penalty, only for Struijk’s timid low spot-kick to be saved by Alnwick. Leeds might have wondered how they were only one goal in front. Indeed, there was a hint of frustration in the away end that their team were unable to turn their dominance into a healthier advantage. There was never any danger of losing the lead, though, not when Cardiff were so lacking in any attacking threat. As well as their own team’s abject display, the home fans then had to watch former Swansea City striker Piroe come on and score Leeds’ second with an assured left-footed finish. Comments can not be loaded To load Comments you need to enable Java Script in your browser Last Updated 21st September 2024 at 20: 33 Please Note: All times UK. Tables are subject to change. The BBC is not responsible for any changes that may be made. Manager: Erol Bulut Formation: 5 - 4 - 1 Manager: Daniel Farke Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 Championship All competitions All competitions All competitions Cardiff City have lost just four of their 24 league games against Leeds United this century (W14 D6) and have scored 16 goals across the last seven meetings between these sides. Leeds United have won three of their last five away league games against Cardiff City (L2), despite winning just one of their prior 22 such matches across the top four tiers beforehand.   Cardiff have lost five of their last six home league games (W1), including each of the last three; they last endured a longer such run in November 2021 (L6). Leeds United have already kept seven clean sheets away from home in the league in 2024 (excluding play-offs), last recording more in 2019 (9).    Cardiff City find themselves rooted to the bottom of the Championship table (since 2004-05) this late into a season for just the second time ever after September 2016, when they had just lost their eighth game of the campaign 0-2 at home to Leeds United.    Match ends, Cardiff City 0, Leeds United 2. Second Half ends, Cardiff City 0, Leeds United 2. Foul by Junior Firpo (Leeds United). Chris Willock (Cardiff City) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Junior Firpo (Leeds United) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Rubin Colwill (Cardiff City). Substitution, Leeds United. Isaac Schmidt replaces Wilfried Gnonto. Foul by Sam Byram (Leeds United). Rubin Colwill (Cardiff City) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Fourth official has announced 8 minutes of added time. Substitution, Leeds United. Ao Tanaka replaces Mateo Joseph. Substitution, Leeds United. Joe Rothwell replaces Ilia Gruev. Attempt saved. Anwar El Ghazi (Cardiff City) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Chris Willock with a through ball. Goal! Cardiff City 0, Leeds United 2. Joël Piroe (Leeds United) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left to the top right corner. Assisted by Brenden Aaronson. Foul by Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United). Perry Ng (Cardiff City) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Attempt missed. Rubin Colwill (Cardiff City) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Perry Ng. Substitution, Leeds United. Sam Byram replaces Jayden Bogle. Substitution, Leeds United. Joël Piroe replaces Largie Ramazani. Ilia Gruev (Leeds United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. © 2024 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.