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Liam Feeney's first two goals for Bolton earned Neil Lennon a third win in five matches as manager, though they remain in the relegation zone.

The ex-Millwall winger swept in Lee Chung-Yong's cross to score for the first time since August 2013, before Darren Pratley fed him to add a second.

Matt Mills scuffed in a third, before Cardiff's Ravel Morrison clashed with Pratley as City's frustration grew.

Midfielder Morrison appeared to kick out at Pratley before both were booked.

Lennon, unhappy at the manner of Friday's 2-1 defeat at Norwich, responded by dropping captain Jay Spearing and last season's top scorer Jermaine Beckford to the bench.

Bolton went ahead when Pratley embarked on a drifting cross-field run, playing in Lee to cross for Feeney to beat David Marshall.

Mills, captain for the night in place of Spearing, then nodded over before having a close-range shot cleared off the line by Craig Noone.

But Feeney made it two when Lee kept the ball alive on the left to allow Pratley to hit a far-post cross to Feeney, who struck his shot into the ground and over Marshall.

Mills made victory certain when his mis-hit Max Clayton's low ball from the left into the ground, and it dribbled into the far corner of the net.

Morrison and Pratley were then involved in their late tussle, but both men stayed on the pitch after a lengthy discussion between the officials.

Cardiff, losing for only the second time under manager Russell Slade, stay in mid-table.

Bolton manager Neil Lennon: "It's the best we've played since I've been here against a very good side with a good manager.

"There was a good intensity and tempo to our play and real quality in the final third. We finished the game strongly which pleased me as well, so our fitness levels are improving.

"I think I've got some good footballers here and they've shown that tonight. Now, that's a benchmark. We can't keep going win, loss, win, loss, win and then lose on Friday. We've set a good standard now."

Cardiff City manager Russell Slade: "Sometimes you look at your players in training and you think maybe they're not looking confident but there's been a real confidence about the changing room and preparation has gone as well as ever.

"However, I just felt in that first period we had a little bit of a soft underbelly and you can't do that. And also you can't switch the game on and off like a tap."