Neal Ardley's free-kick earned struggling Cardiff a share of the points from a
hard-fought encounter against 10-man Leicester at the Walkers Stadium.
Ardley's second-half strike cancelled out David Connolly's 32nd-minute opener
for the hosts - who played the last 10 minutes a man down after Nikos Dabizas
was dismissed.
Leicester manager Craig Levein made three changes to the side that lost at
Wigan with Stephen Hughes returning from suspension, and Darren Kenton and
Lilian Nalis starting.
Mark de Vries and Keith Gillespie dropped to the bench but there was no place
at all for Joey Gudjonsson.
Fit-again Willie Boland was handed his first start since before Christmas as
Cardiff boss Lennie Lawrence made one change to the side that crashed at
Preston. Joe Ledley was the man to make way.
Levein's changes meant Dion Dublin moved up front to partner Connolly but it
was Nalis who had the first chance - blasting over after nine minutes.
Ardley then forced Ian Walker into a save before Danny Tiatto tested Bluebirds
goalkeeper Neil Alexander at the other end as the game opened up after quarter
of an hour.
Alexander had to be at his best to tip the ball over the crossbar when
Connolly cut inside and let fly from 25 yards midway through the first half.
The hosts should have opened the scoring moments later but when the ball fell
to Hughes he opted to blast it rather than pick his spot and Alexander blocked
with his feet.
However, they did not have long to wait and Connolly fired them ahead from the
tightest of angles with a left-footed shot that took a deflection off a Cardiff
defender.
Connolly almost doubled his tally at the end of the first half but he hit the
inside of the post and Hughes failed to get hold of the rebound.
Both sides made a nervy start to the second half and Cardiff eventually hauled
themselves level after 57 minutes.
Hughes' foul on Richard Langley presented the visitors with a free-kick and
Ardley chipped the ball over the wall with Walker rooted to the spot.
Tiatto had an opportunity to restore his side's lead minutes later when
Leicester were awarded a free-kick of their own but Alexander was equal to his
effort and held it easily.
Leicester then went route one and when Dublin got his head to Walker's long
ball, he was unlucky to see his effort clip the crossbar.
Foxes defender Dabizas did his side no favours when he was sent off with 10
minutes left when his challenge on Jobi McAnuff earned him a second yellow card,
having earlier been cautioned for a foul on Cameron Jerome.
But despite their numerical advantage Cardiff were unable to raise the tempo
and Leicester continued to press but failed to find the winner.
Teams:
Leicester Walker, Kenton (Stearman 82), Dabizas, McCarthy,
Maybury, Hughes (Gillespie 86), Williams, Nalis, Tiatto,
Connolly (de Vries 90), Dublin.
Subs Not Used: Moore, Hirschfeld.
Sent Off: Dabizas (81).
Booked: Dabizas, Maybury, McCarthy, Stearman.
Goals: Connolly 33.
Cardiff Alexander, Vidmar, Collins, Gabbidon, Barker,
Ardley (Ledley 90), Boland, Langley, McAnuff, Thorne,
Jerome (Lee 64).
Subs Not Used: Margetson, Parry, Williams.
Booked: Lee.
Goals: Ardley 58.
Att: 21,336
Ref: P Taylor (Hertfordshire).
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