Despite missing out on the Sky Bet Championship play-offs, Mick McCarthy's Cardiff showed a real hunger and a hugely deserved victory was their biggest of the season.

Blues had an unfamiliar line-up with head coach Bowyer making seven changes from the side that won 2-1 at Derby last weekend to confirm their safety.

Youngsters such as Zach Jeacock, Josh Dacres-Cogley, Steve Seddon, Ryan Stirk and Amari Miller got the chance to impress.

But it was one of the most experienced players in the team – captain for the day Marc Roberts – whose mistake gifted Cardiff a ninth-minute lead.

Roberts' pass out of defence was easily intercepted by Wilson, who produced a first-time swerving effort with the outside of his left foot into the top corner of the net from 22 yards.

The Wales international's outstanding finish giving backpedalling goalkeeper Jeacock – making only his second senior appearance – no chance.

Seddon and Ivan Sunjic both fired wide as Blues tried to respond, but it was all pretty tame and unconvincing from the home side.

Wilson, on the other hand, looked a threat every time he was near the ball. The 24-year-old saw a shot beaten away by Jeacock after opting for power in the box.

Then he grabbed his second goal to make it 2-0 in the 40th minute.

It was another excellent finish, bending a free-kick low around a four-man defensive wall and into the bottom corner of the net from 25 yards to again leave Jeacock with no chance.

Jeacock twice prevented a third goal for Cardiff in a matter of minutes early after the break.

First he dived full length to his right to keep out Harris' snapshot from close range.

Then he blocked clean-through Rubin Culwill's point-blank effort after another poor pass out of defence.

Cardiff made it 3-0 in the 68th minute with a fine goal on the counter-attack.

Wilson hooked the ball out to Josh Murphy on the left wing and the substitute crossed to Harris, who had time to control before unleashing a fierce low drive that ripped into the bottom corner of the net from just inside the box.

Wilson completed his treble when he curled a free-kick into the top corner of the net from 25 yards in the 86th minute.