Bluebirds boss Jones hails Thompson's match-winning wonder strike

Thompson netted for the third time in his last four appearances early in the first half with a fine 25-yard right-footed drive to seal victory for the Bluebirds.

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It is the first time Cardiff have won at Bloomfield Road since 1968 and Jones was quick to praise Thompson's attitude and application after being deemed surplus to requirements in the summer.

"I forgot he was on it (the transfer list) to be honest," admitted Jones, whose side also recorded back-to-back Coca-Cola Championship wins for the first time this season.

"No clubs have come in so it's just a case of Thommo getting his head down.

"The good thing about me is that if I put someone on the transfer list and say to somebody that they are finished at the club then they are definitely finished. That was never the case with Thommo.

"He's gone on the transfer list but if he stays he might play. If he puts in the performances he is doing then he'll play.

"I don't care if he's on the transfer list or not. Nothing is personal in football. Thommo has accepted that and I have and it's up to him to keep going.

"He is on fire at the minute and when you're on fire as a striker everything you seem to hit seems to go in."

Jones joked: "If he keeps scoring goals like that it's probably best to keep him on the transfer list."

City goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel further enhanced his burgeoning reputation with an outstanding display to frustrate Simon Grayson's side, who went closest to claiming a point when Gary Taylor-Fletcher rattled the crossbar with a rasping volley.

Defeat was only Blackpool's second loss on home soil since February while Cardiff hauled further clear of the relegation places.

"Sometimes you've got to come to places and dig deep and we scored a great goal and then had to defend," added Jones.

"We could have made life easier for ourselves if we'd taken some of our other chances but we had to defend and had to win ugly."

Grayson conceded his side were wasteful in attack but refused to round on his players after they failed to build on a morale-enhancing Lancashire derby win over Preston on Saturday.

"I'm very proud of the players and how they've adapted and how they've played," said Grayson. "We probably didn't have the ruthless streak we needed in the final third and obviously if you're going to lose a game it's to a wonder strike like that.

"The lads are disappointed but they played well and didn't quite get the breaks in the box again.

"I thought we started the game ever so well against a very good Cardiff team with some good players. "We took the game to them - as we have a lot of teams this year.

"Obviously, when the goal went in it was a body blow because we were on top at that time but we kept on going and the resilience and belief was there."