Peter Horne blew Cardiff out of the water with half a dozen penalties, reward for a match where the forwards paved the way to success with Mike Cusack the key up front.

The man of the match earned a double figure number of scrum penalties and free kicks, as well as helping take the ball against the head, as Glasgow were well worth this victory to nudge them up to third in the RaboDirect Pro12 table.

Their free-flowing approach kept the pressure on the home team, but it was centre Horne who did the damage to ensure that Cusack and the forward earned the reward for their efforts.

Glasgow would have been aware the Blues' return to the historic home of Cardiff Arms Park has not been a raging success in terms of results, with Edinburgh having already won there this season and Ulster gaining a record victory last week.

In fact, Cardiff have not beaten a non-Italian side there this season and weakness in the scrum has been one of the main reasons. But if you are looking to exploit that area then Cusack is your man, a traditional prop who is very likely to turn the screw in the forward exhanges.

Blues loosehead Campese Ma'afu, an Australian whose scrummaging reputation is less than commanding, was certainly in trouble from the start as a stream of penalties and free kicks flowed Glasgow's way from almost every scrum, with all of them coming for offences on Cusack's side, either engaging too early or collapsing.

That allowed Glasgow to dominate the first half with the boot of Horne notching four out of four penalties. It was the second week he had taken the kicking duties from Ruaridh Jackson and a clear sign that there is a shift in policy, with the goalkicking being taken away from the outside half.

Horne's first penalty was slightly scruffy, but his next three were sweetly struck. The disappointment for Glasgow was that they could not find a way over the line as too many movements drifted across without real forward momentum. But by keeping the pressure in and around the Blues 22 the penalties came for offside, ruck offences and finally a collapsed scrum.

Injury to full back Peter Murchie, playing his 50th game for Glasgow, also brought Scotland's Stuart Hogg on just before half-time. He showed a different gear to most players at the start of the second half as he ghosted through from the back, setting up the position for Horne to extend the lead.

The scrum pressure brought another penalty before Hogg showed his skill in defence as the Blues finally created some space out wide, Taufa'ao Filise driving up the middle to suck in defenders. It was the usually reliable Leigh Halfpenny going for the corner with Hogg coming across and the Scot was able to knock the ball out of his opposite number's grasp to prevent the try.

Hooker Dougie Hall was sent to the sin bin for a professional foul at a ruck, which meant Glasgow had to see out most of the closing minutes with 14 men.

Horne finally missed his first penalty as the match ticked into the final 10 minutes, but Glasgow were able to see the game out comfortably enough.

Cardiff Blues: L Halfpenny (D Fish 60); H Robinson, G Evans, J Roberts, T James; C Sweeney (G Davies 67), L Williams (L Jones 63); C Ma'afu (T Filise 40), R Williams (M Breeze 53), B Borrust (S Andrews 67), J Down, L Reed (M Cook ), R Watts-Jones (R Copeland 32), J Navidi, A Pretorius (Capt).

Glasgow: P Muchie (S Hogg 39); T Seymour, A Dunbar (B McGuigan 78), P Horne, S Lamont; R Jackson, H Pyrgos (N Matawalu 76); G Reid (R Grant 24, M Cusack 67), D Hall (F Gillies ), M Cusack (O Fainga'anuku 66), T Ryder, A Kellock (Capt, T Swinson 29-36, 55), J Strauss (C Fusaro 54), J Barclay, R Wilson.

Referee: Guiseppe Vivarini (Italy).