Matty Fryatt's first goal for the club was not enough to prevent Leicester City from slipping to a 2-1 defeat against Cardiff at the Walkers Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The 19-year-old cancelled out Cameron Jerome's early opener but Jason Koumas' pinpoint free-kick after the interval ensured that the Foxes remained in the Championship bottom three for a second consecutive weekend.
Mark de Vries worked tirelessly up front and created several chances along with his new strike partner.
But some impressive goalkeeping from Neil Alexander and lacklustre finishing meant another home defeat for Craig Levein's men.
City started brightly as they looked for an early opener, forcing two corners in quick succession.
While at the other end, recent signing Steve Thompson volleyed his shot over the bar from 20-yards on seven minutes.
Mark de Vries got his toe to Rab Douglas' long kick forward but Neil Alexander saved comfortably two minutes later.
However, it was the visitors who took the lead on 13 minutes through Cameron Jerome.
Ryan Smith gave away possession on the half-way line, before the ball found its way to Neal Ardley on the right flank.
His pinpoint cross was met by the head of Jerome who steered the ball into the back of the net past the despairing dive of Douglas for the opener.
De Vries dragged his shot wide in the 16th minute before Thompson fired straight at Douglas after capitalising on a Paddy McCarthy slip.
Matty Fryatt had his first real sight of goal on 22 minutes but he put Richard Stearman's near post cross over the bar.
Alan Maybury then shot high over the crossbar two minutes later and Alexander gathered Stearman's cross at the second attempt with de Vries lurking at the back post.
The Dutchman glanced Stearman's cross just wide in the 33rd minute and was in the thick of the action moments later when his snap-shot was blocked before his low cross was turned just wide by Stephen Hughes.
However, the hosts did duly equalise on 41 minutes thanks to Fryatt.
After de Vries' cross was blocked, Stearman headed the loose ball over to the far post for the former Walsall man, whose looping header beat the keeper and despite Darren Purse's desperate clearance, the assistant referee adjudged that the ball had crossed the line much to the home fans' delight.
City almost netted a second a minute later but de Vries' deflected shot rose agonisingly over the bar with the keeper beaten.
On the stroke of half-time, Alexander pulled off another fine save to deny Fryatt inside the area but honours ended even at the break despite the Foxes being in the ascendancy.
The Bluebirds were the first to show after the interval but Jerome fired high and wide after Ardley's teasing cross.
On 51 minutes, Fryatt came close once more when he gambled on de Vries' blocked shot, but Alexander pulled off another exquisite finger-tip save to turn his shot around the post for a corner.
However, despite the hosts' pressure, it was the visitors who restored their advantage in the 56th minute.
After Cardiff were awarded a free-kick 20-yards out, Jason Koumas brilliantly curled his effort over the wall and into the far corner for his side's second of the match.
A neat turn and shot from de Vries soon after was deflected for a corner, which came to nothing.
The visitors made their first change on 62 minutes with Willie Boland replacing Rhys Weston.
Smith put his shot over from distance three minutes later before Kevin Cooper replaced Thompson.
De Vries headed just wide from Smith's centre then Douglas did well to gather Jerome's cross from the right.
City made a double change on 77 minutes with James Wesolowski, back after injury, and Iain Hume replacing Patrick Kisnorbo and Maybury respectively.
Chris Barker was booked for time-wasting in the 79th minute then Smith made way for Elvis Hammond in the dying moments of the game.
Stearman's last gasp tackle denied Jerome on 85 minutes and Alexander saved de Vries' spinning shot two minutes from time.
Douglas tipped Joe Ledley's shot over the bar in stoppage time before Guylain Ndumbu-Nsungu came on for Jerome but he had little time to make an impact as it was the visitors who returned to Wales with all three points.
City: Douglas, Stearman, McCarthy ©, Johansson, Maybury (Hume 77), Smith (Hammond 84), Kisnorbo (Wesolowski 77), Williams, Hughes, Fryatt, De Vries. Subs not used: Hamill, Gerrbrand.
Cardiff: Alexander, Barker, Purse ©, Cox, Ardley, Koumas, Weston (Boland 62), Ledley, Scimeca, Thomspon (Cooper 66), Jerome (Ndumbu-Nsungu 90). Subs not used: Mulryne, Margetson.
Yellow Cards
City: None
Cardiff: Barker (79)
Referee: Neil Swarbrick (Lancashire)
Attendance: 20,140
