Cardiff City took a significant stride towards securing an instant return to the Championship with a much-needed home win over League One promotion rivals Bolton Wanderers.

Cardiff's wait for a home goal had stretched beyond five hours during a first half they completely dominated, only to be let down by their finishing again.

But they ended their drought five minutes after the interval as Omari Kellyman – who had scored the Bluebirds' last goal at Cardiff City Stadium back in February – headed in from Joel Bagan's corner.

The hosts doubled their lead two minutes later as Alex Robertson led a rapid counter-attack and set up Chris Willock to cut inside and finish neatly into the bottom far corner.

Bolton did not manage a shot until the 64th minute – prompting ironic cheers from their travelling fans – and soon afterwards Sam Dalby's header flicked a post.

Defeat keeps the Trotters fourth in League One, now 11 points adrift of second-place Cardiff and the automatic promotion positions, having played a game more than the Welsh side.

Just a third win in nine matches for Cardiff strengthens their hold on second spot, taking them 10 points clear of third-place Bradford City before the Bantams host Stevenage, who are sixth, later on Saturday.

Cardiff looked to be coasting towards promotion for much of this season, before a run of only two wins from their past eight games caused the nerves to kick in.

Supporters' apprehension before this fixture was not helped by the fact the Bluebirds had lost two and drawn one of their previous home games against the three other top-five teams in League One.

You would not have known it from the way Cardiff started against Bolton, flying out of the traps and putting the away side under intense pressure.

There were five shots during a frantic opening 15 minutes, with Kellyman and Robertson drawing saves from visiting goalkeeper Jack Bonham.

Robertson then somehow managed to hit the bar from point-blank range when it looked easier to score.

Given the sheer volume of chances, it felt like a matter of time before Cardiff eventually broke through.

And when they finally got that elusive goal, after five hours of waiting, they scored two in two minutes.

Kellyman got the first, glancing in unmarked from Bagan's inswinging corner, and Willock applied a slick finishing touch to a Robertson-inspired break for the second.

Ollie Tanner and Ryan Wintle came close to adding a third, while Bolton barely threatened beyond Dalby's header which brushed the post.

With four games left, Steven Schumacher's men look destined to finish in the play-off spots.

As for Cardiff, they have five matches remaining to seal automatic promotion. With their 10-point advantage, it should be a formality from here.