Michael Kightly offered Wolverhampton Wanderers supporters a glimpse of what might have been this season — and yet what could still be. The England Under-21 winger, making his first start for five months, lit up Molineux with his effervescence last night, having a hand in the opening two goals and scoring the third, as Mick McCarthy’s team moved to within two points of the Coca-Cola Championship play-offs zone.

Kightly was the first to react to stab the loose ball home when Peter Enckelman could only parry Sylvain Ebanks-Blake’s shot early in the second half to complete their biggest victory of the season as Cardiff City, with one eye on the FA Cup Final in the absence of Dave Jones, their unwell manager, flattered to deceive.

Wolves are away to Coventry City on Saturday before entertaining Plymouth Argyle a week on Sunday. On the verge of claiming third place in the week that Kightly was sidelined in November because of an ankle injury, they could yet salvage a top-six place.

The script suggested that Jones would return to Molineux and make his former club sick about missing out on the play-offs. Instead it was the Cardiff manager who was too ill to make it to the game last night, Terry Burton, his assistant, taking charge as Jones returned home with a chest infection.

Taking Wolves into the top flight five years ago competes with leading Cardiff to Wembley as the high points on Jones’s curriculum vitae, but it is doubtful that he would be relieved of his duties at Ninian Park in six months should next month’s Cup Final end in disappointment.

Jones has built a sound passing team in Cardiff and the defeat by Scunthorpe United on Saturday that effectively ended their own distant promotion ambitions was a first in 11 matches. But they looked out of sight by half-time last night as, despite dominating possession with neat and intricate football, they fell two goals behind to a Wolves team desperate to keep their season alive.

Kightly certainly made a difference last night. After the bitter disappointment of defeat by West Bromwich Albion a week earlier, the winger had buzzed around Molineux in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Ipswich Town after his return from long-term injury.

Considering Wolves conceded in the fourth minute of stoppage time on Saturday, they might have been feeling sorry for themselves before kick-off. But Kightly was soon dashing about with characteristic intent and, when he picked up the rebound from Andy Keogh’s free kick and crossed long to the back post, Kevin Foley headed back into the middle for Keogh to head in his eleventh goal of the season.

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, the Cardiff striker, should have scored when the ball fell his way after Gavin Rae was sent clear, but Wayne Hennessey saved superbly. Cardiff continued to pour forward in numbers and Wolves were content to attack on the counter, Kightly releasing Matt Jarvis only for the left winger’s through-pass to Ebanks-Blake to be cut out as a second goal beckoned.

It was a temporary reprieve for Cardiff. In the final minute of the half, Kightly surged through the middle and passed wide for Jarvis, who pulled the ball back for Foley. From the full back’s deep cross, Keogh headed across goal and Ebanks-Blake touched in his 24th goal of the season.

Wolverhampton Wanderers (4-4-2): W Hennessey — K Foley (sub: N Collins, 87min), G Breen, J Craddock, G Elokobi — M Kightly (sub: S Ward, 60), S Olofinjana, D Gibson, M Jarvis (sub: S Elliott, 76) — S Ebanks-Blake, A Keogh. Substitutes not used: F Eastwood, G Stack.

Cardiff City (4-4-1-1): P Enckelman — K McNaughton, R Johnson, G Loovens, A Capaldi — A Ramsey (sub: R Scimeca, 62), G Rae, S McPhail, P Whittingham (sub: D Blake, 82) — J Ledley — J F Hasselbaink (sub: S Thompson, 62). Substitutes not used: D Purse, M Oakes.

Referee: M Halsey.