Yousef Salech scored a late winner as Cardiff City came from behind to beat promotion rivals Stevenage and maintain their three-point advantage at the League One summit.
Starting the game fifth in the table, Stevenage set out to play for a draw and, having shackled their opponents effectively, led against the run of play in the second half when Phoenix Patterson curled in superbly.
Cardiff, who dominated possession and territory throughout, equalised seven minutes later as Callum Robinson struck on the rebound after his initial effort was blocked on the line.
Brian Barry-Murphy's side continued to apply pressure and eventually breached League One's tightest defence for a second time in the 82nd minute when top scorer Salech diverted Chris Willock's shot.
With second-place Lincoln City victorious at Barnsley, Cardiff's seventh successive home league victory keeps them three points clear at the top and four points in front of Bradford City in third following the Bantams' win against Port Vale.
Stevenage, meanwhile, drop down to seventh, one point behind Bolton Wanderers in the last of the play-off spots.
This was a striking clash of styles between two of the division's promotion contenders.
In the blue corner, the free-scoring entertainers at the top of the table looking for an instant return to the Championship. And in red and white, League One's most miserly defence mounting a top-six challenge relatively few would have predicted in pre-season.
Stevenage's intentions were clear: sit back, dig in and contain their opponents.
They did exactly that during the first half. Yet despite having less than 30% possession, the visitors came closest to scoring when Harvey White's cross-come-shot of a free-kick hit the crossbar.
As much as Cardiff kept the ball and pinned the visitors back, they were limited to half-chances such as Salech's drilled effort wide from 20 yards and David Turnbull's volley over.
Stevenage had already been penalised for wasting time when, 12 minutes into the second half, Patterson shifted the ball on to his right foot just inside the Cardiff penalty area and bent a fine finish into the far corner.
Their hopes of an archetypal 'smash-and-grab' win lasted only seven minutes, though, as Robinson forced a low shot over the line having initially been denied by determined Stevenage defending.
That was the least Cardiff deserved and, buoyed by a passionate home crowd, they were not going to settle for a point.
Salech, who had missed a handful of headed chances, made the decisive contribution as he used his thigh to deflect Willock's effort into the net and prompt scenes of jubilation – and relief – at Cardiff City Stadium.
Stevenage thought they had snatched a point in stoppage time but captain Carl Piergianni's strike was disallowed for handball.
Cardiff City: Trott, NG (Kpakio 60’), Fish, Chambers ©, Bagan, Wintle, Turnbull (Robertson 83’), Robinson (J.Colwill 86’), Davies (Kellyman 60’), Willock (Tanner 83’), Salech. Subs Not Used: Turner, Lawlor.
Stevenage: Marschall, James-Wildin, Houghton (Pattenden 77’), Piergianni ©, Kemp (Thompson 69’), Goode, Freestone, White, Reid (Young 83’), Lubala (Malcolm 69’), Patterson (Campbell 69’). Subs Not Used: Ashby-Hammond, Earley.
