Cardiff City's bid to return to the top of the Championship table stuttered during the opening 45 minutes of their home encounter with Sheffield Wednesday this afternoon.

Despite dominating the half, the Bluebirds were unable to find a way past Chris Kirkland in the Wednesday net.

Cardiff midfielder Peter Whittingham was the first to have an attempt at goal with 18 minutes played, but he shot over the bar from the edge of the area.

Kirkland was first called into meaningful action with 24 minutes gone when he got down to save a strike from Jordan Mutch.

Then with 33 minutes on the clock the former Liverpool goalkeeper managed to deny Cardiff centre-back Mark Hudson from close range following a corner by Whittingham.

Victory for the home team would see them leapfrog Crystal Palace at the top, while maximum points for Wednesday will move them out of the relegation zone.