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Academy product Cian Ashford produced a full Championship debut for the ages with a 96th-minute winner against Southampton as Cardiff City came back from a goal down to win 2-1 in dramatic fashion.

The Saints peppered Cardiff's goal for most of the match, but a combination of good saves from Ethan Horvath and wastefulness on the part of Southampton saw them score only once, through Joe Aribo just seven minutes in.

The more chances that were missed and the more time ticked on, it just felt like Cardiff could grab something. And they did, thanks to Famara Diedhiou's second-half equaliser. And then, when the game looked to be ticking towards a draw, up step Ashford, 19, deep into time-added-on, to produce the goods from 25 yards out. Incredible.

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An improbable result, particularly given how depleted Cardiff were - they dished out two league debuts and a full Championship debut - but huge credit must be given to Erol Bulut and his players. In the process, they dealt a seismic blow to Saints' automatic promotion hopes.

Ashford was handed his first league start, while the bench was packed with a load of academy youngsters and uncapped players.

The Bluebirds were forced into a number of changes, with 11 players out through injury and illness. It meant it was a bit of a rag-tag team, with Ollie Tanner named at left-back.

As you would perhaps expect, Saints dominated the ball and should have been out of sight by the time the half-time whistle even blew.

It took them only eight minutes to hit the post through Stuart Armstrong and 12 minutes to take the lead. Adam Armstrong chopped inside of Mahlon Romeo, who was also drafted into the side after being disciplined by the club in recent weeks, and hit a bending shot. Horvath could only parry into the danger zone and Aribo drilled home from near the edge of the box.

It was an onslaught after that. Russell Martin would have been pulling his hair out that his side had only a single-goal lead at the break, despite unleashing 12 shots in the first half.

The big chances for the visitors included when Che Adams was clean through on Cardiff's goal, only to hit his one-on-one chance straight at Horvath.

Horvath was also forced into a very good low save from David Brooks' low shot on the half-hour mark, while the two were involved in an almost comically bad period of play four minutes later. A bad back pass from Tanner saw Horvath miscontrol the ball and cede the ball to Armstrong. Horvath slid in to tackle Armstrong, leaving Brooks with an open goal to shoot at. Brooks took too much time and Horvath, somehow, managed to get back and stop him scoring.

Cardiff had a few bright moments of their own, the highlight of which was when Tanner's excellent cross found David Turnbull, who headed on goal and forced Alex McCarthy into a smart save. McCarthy also had to be alert from Tanner's low shot not long after.

But Bulut would have been delighted to go down the tunnel at half time only a goal behind.

Saints came flying out of the traps in the second half, but still, somehow, couldn't find the back of the net. When Adams hit a brilliant cross to Armstrong at the back post, his diving header was, somehow, kept out by a sprawling Horvath. Another really top save.

Then, out of nowhere, Cardiff found themselves level. And huge credit has to go to debutant Raheem Conte, just minutes after he came on. Colwill played him in behind the defence and Conte hit a lovely low cross to Yakou Meite, who swept it towards goal only for Diedhiou to slide in and poke home.

Meite also could have been forgiven for thinking he'd won the lot, when he checked inside and hit a lovely, curling shot from 25 yards. McCarthy backpedalled and, just, managed to tip it over the bar. Momentum seemed to have shifted.

There was time for a third debutant of the afternoon, too, when 18-year-old Luey Giles replaced Tanner late on. Cardiff's goal had stymied Southampton somewhat and as it ticked closer to the final whistle, the Bluebirds looked the more likely.

Giles then fed Ashford down the left and the 19-year-old cut inside before trying his luck from distance. It took an almighty deflection - he won't care - before it buried itself into the bottom corner of the net.

Cue bedlam from the Canton End behind the goal. Bulut leapt in the air and hugged his assistants. From nowhere, Cardiff were ahead.

But there was three minutes left for a twist in the tale. Stuart Armstrong was played in and looked nailed on to net a late equaliser, but Dimitrios Goutas produced a block for the ages to stop a certain goal. And, with that, the Bluebirds sealed the win.

Cardiff City XI: Horvath; Romeo (Conte 65), Goutas, Phillips, Tanner (Giles 77); Siopis, Ralls; R. Colwill, Turnbull (Diedhiou 61), Ashford; Meite.

Subs: Turner, Wintle, Sawyers, J. Colwill, Lawlor, Antwi.

Southampton XI: McCarthy; Walker-Peters, Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Manning (Bree 46); Smallbone (Edozie 80), Aribo (Rothwell 73); S Armstrong, Brooks (Fraser 80), Adams; A Armstrong (Kamaldeen 80).

Subs: Lumley, Stephens, Charles, Dibling.