David Vaughan earned Crewe a Coca-Cola Championship point they barely deserved against fellow strugglers Cardiff at Ninian Park.

Cardiff dominated after taking the lead through Danny Gabbidon's first goal of the season in the first half.

Crewe were without a win in their last 12 Championship games and they never looked like bucking that trend as Lennie Lawrence's side bossed proceedings from start to finish.

But the Bluebirds were left to rue a host of missed opportunities as Vaughan fired home when Crewe launched a rare attack early in the second half.

Alan Lee returned from a three-match suspension to partner Cameron Jerome in the Cardiff attack with Lee Bullock dropping down to the bench.

Crewe boss Dario Gradi made one change to the side that 1-1 at West Ham on Tuesday with Vaughan coming in for Gary Roberts.

The hosts pinned Crewe into their own half from the kick-off and Jobi McAnuff threatened on a couple of occasions from distance before Lee, keen to make up for lost time, missed the target with a header.

Junichi Inamoto was next to try his luck as the Bluebirds continued to press. The on-loan midfielder, playing his last game before returning to West Brom, was keen to sign off in style and forced Crewe goalkeeper Ben Williams into a save following good work from Jerome.

The constant pressure paid off after 20 minutes when Anthony Tonkin's challenge on Rhys Weston presented the hosts with a free-kick 25 yards out. Defender Gabbidon stepped up, picked his spot and curled the ball around the wall and into the corner.

It took the visitors half an hour to create their first opening and Vaughan stung the palms of Neil Alexander from the edge of the area.

Lee's strength was giving the Crewe defence problems and he held the ball up well before playing in McAnuff who fired just wide.

But despite enjoying the bulk of the possession Cardiff could not add to their tally before the interval.

Jerome and Lee combined well at the start of the second half but Lee's shot was easily dealt with by Williams.

Cardiff were made to pay for their missed chances after 57 minutes. Substitute Steve Jones, on in place of Mark Rivers, wriggled free from the Cardiff defence and released Vaughan on the left and he made no mistake with a shot inside the far post.

The leveller stung the visitors into life and they enjoyed their best spell of the match just after the goal. Luke Varney found the time and space to have a go and fizzed a shot just wide of the post.

Lawrence sent on Bullock and Toni Koskela in place of Lee and Inamoto as Cardiff tried to regain the upper hand. Bullock sent a glancing header just wide with 10 minutes left and Jerome blasted high over the crossbar as the hosts upped the tempo in the closing stages.

But they could not find the winner and left the field to a chorus of boos from most of the 10,007 crowd - their lowest of the season.

Teams

Cardiff Alexander, Weston, Gabbidon, Collins, Barker, Langley, Ledley, Inamoto (Koskela 68), McAnuff, Jerome, Lee (Bullock 68).

Subs Not Used: Margetson, Vidmar, Williams.

Goals: Gabbidon 21.

Crewe Williams, McCready, Walker, Murdock, Tonkin, Lunt, Sorvel, Bell, Vaughan, Varney, Rivers (Steve Jones 45).

Subs Not Used: Cochrane, White, Gary Roberts, Wills.

Goals: Vaughan 57.

Att: 10,007

Ref: S Tanner (S Gloucestershire).