The Tigers failed to boost their position in the Play-Off race as they went down to a 1-0 defeat at FA Cup semi-finalists Cardiff City.
A poor performance from City saw them concede inside two minutes and they hardly created a chance on a disappointing night in South Wales.
Phil Brown named an unchanged side as he kept faith with the same eleven that defeated Scunthorpe United at the weekend.
The only change in the 16 came on the bench as Bryan Hughes returned from injury to take the place of Michael Bridges.
Cardiff took the lead inside two minutes. What seemed a hopeful high ball towards the box was chested down by Stephen McPhail who managed to fire a volley over Boaz Myhill and in off the underside of the bar.
With a buoyant above-average home crowd following the Bluebirds shock Cup win at Premier League Middlesbrough, the Tigers had hardly touched the ball and the 'feel good' factor around Ninian Park had been raised another notch.
The home side could have doubled the lead when Steve Thompson almost caught Myhill out of position, but the keeper managed to smother the striker's shot.
Tony Capaldi was booked on 16 minutes for a foul on Richard Garcia as City looked to try and find a way into the game.
They suffered a blow in the 24th minute when they lost Wayne Brown to injury. Neil Clement came on to take his place.
City finally launched an attack and when they did, they won a corner but Dean Marney's delivery was headed away at the near post.
McPhail was booked on 33 minutes for a foul on Craig Fagan and Michael Turner soon followed the Cardiff captain into the book for a challenge on Thompson.
City won a free kick by the right corner flag when Garcia was tripped by Capaldi. Andy Dawson's delivery found its way through to Garcia, whose low shot was deflected wide, although City couldn't make anything of the resulting corner.
The flow of yellow cards continued as Riccardo Scimeca was booked for hauling down Henrik Pedersen.
Cardiff were forced into a change themselves shortly before half time when they lost right back Kevin McNaughton to injury. Joe Ledley came on in his place.
A strong run from Sam Ricketts saw him race towards the Cardiff area before firing a low shot straight at Peter Enckelman.
Half Time: Tigers 0-1 Cardiff
The second half got off to a slow start with a stoppage for an injury to Glenn Loovens the only incident of note.
City won a corner on 53 minutes. Marney crossed, but again Cardiff defended well before Garcia shot wide from 25 yards.
City's second change came with just over 20 minutes to go as Hughes replaced Fraizer Campbell. That saw Henrik Pedersen move up from alongside Fagan with Hughes playing on the left.
Myhill was forced into a reaction save on 79 minutes when Gavin Rae's cross evaded Ian Ashbee and found Thompson, but his effort was flipped wide by the City keeper.
City were struggling to create anything and in their desperation, pushed Turner up front.
The Tigers forced a corner in the last minute. Dawson delivered, but Enckelman punched the ball away.
Three minutes of time were added, but City were unable to threaten an equaliser.
Tigers (4-4-2) Boaz Myhill; Sam Ricketts, Michael Turner, Wayne Brown (Clement 24), Andy Dawson; Richard Garcia, Dean Marney, Ian Ashbee [captain] Henrik Pedersen; Craig Fagan, Fraizer Campbell (Hughes 68).
Subs: Mark Tyler, Neil Clement, Simon Walton, Ryan France, Bryan Hughes.
Bookings: Turner 35
Cardiff City (4-4-2) Peter Enckelman; Kevin McNaughton (Ledley 42), Glenn Loovens, Roger Johnson, Tony Capaldi; Trevor Sinclair, Stephen McPhail [captain], Riccardo Scimeca (Rae 62), Peter Whittingham; Paul Parry (Feeney 90), Steve Thompson.
Subs: Michael Oakes, Gavin Rae, Darren Purse, Warren Feeney, Joe Ledley.
Bookings: Capaldi 16, Loovens 32, Scimeca 39
