Lee Tomlin's third goal in four games piled more misery on the Championship's bottom side Luton as Cardiff City moved within four points of the play-off places.

Tomlin curled home from the edge of the box with 17 minutes remaining to punish the Hatters for wasting several first-half opportunities.

Harry Cornick twice squandered decent openings for Luton, who are now nine points from safety and with a vastly inferior goal difference to the majority of their relegation rivals.

Cardiff assumed control after the break with Joe Bennett twice going close before Tomlin's winner lifted them to eighth and above south Wales rivals Swansea, who lost at home to Derby.

Luton could have salvaged a point in stoppage time but Bluebirds keeper Alex Smithies gathered substitute George Moncur's shot at the second attempt.

Instead, Graeme Jones' Hatters were left to rue Cornick flashing a good chance wide in the opening 20 minutes, just moments after failing to control a Ryan Tunnicliffe cross with the goal at his mercy.

James Collins and Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu also volleyed wide as Luton - driven forward by the impressive Izzy Brown - controlled the opening half.

But they again failed to keep a clean sheet - having recorded just one league shut-out all season - as mercurial midfielder Tomlin produced a trademark strike to condemn them to a ninth loss in 11 matches.

Cardiff now face three more games against sides in the Championship's bottom six - Huddersfield, Wigan and Stoke - as they bid to extend a run of just one defeat in 10 league games.

Luton Town boss Graeme Jones:

"We out-possessed them, we created more chances than them, and the boys gave absolutely everything they have got.

"The game boils down to two moments where Tomlin, he doesn't hope to score, he makes sure he can score.

"We had a really good opportunity - an incredible one-v-one - and you have to take them if you're going to win the game and we didn't."

Cardiff City manager Neil Harris:

"I just thought today was a game that we had to try and win if we are serious about heading towards the top six.

"We were lucky maybe not to be behind at half-time.

"Second half was so much better, a lot more professional and some real moments of quality."