Roger Johnson's late own goal gifted Championship leaders West Brom a point as they came from behind to deny resurgent Cardiff.

The unfortunate Bluebirds defender could not prevent the ball deflecting off him and into the net with just two minutes left as the visitors surrendered 2-0 and 3-1 leads at The Hawthorns.

Paul Parry had struck twice to put City in control before Roman Bednar pulled one back with a header after 35 minutes.

The two-goal lead was restored by Joe Ledley early in the second half before Martin Albrechtsen and Johnson's own goal earned the Baggies a point which keeps them top.

With their side beaten at home just once in the league this season, the Baggies' support arrived for their side's first Championship game at The Hawthorns of 2008 in expectant mood.

But Parry swiftly put paid to that, firing into the top left corner after just 30 seconds following good work from Gavin Rae.

West Brom were dealt another blow in the 13th minute when injury forced Ishmael Miller off the field with Bednar coming on in his place.

Both sides had chances with Peter Whittingham first shooting wide from 20 yards before Michael Oakes did well to parry Kevin Phillips' long-range effort.

City, who have won their last four games, had to make a change of their own after 32 minutes when Darcy Blake came on for Kevin McNaughton, and within one minute the replacement had made a telling contribution.

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink failed to flick on Blake's 33rd-minute long ball but it ran through to Parry, who poked past Dean Kiely from close range.

Tony Mowbray's side quickly hit back though, Bednar rising highest to head Jonathan Greening's cross into the right corner.

Carl Hoefkens and Chris Brunt both had chances to pull Albion level, while Parry spurned the chance of a first half hat-trick when he fired over from 12 yards midway through the six minutes of stoppage time.

Just six minutes of the second half had passed when Ledley restored the two-goal advantage.

A classic piece of counter-attacking from Cardiff was finished in style by the highly-rated winger, who drilled into the bottom right corner from the left side of the area.

The visitors looked the more likely to add to their advantage, with Glenn Loovens handed a great opportunity from Ledley's outswinging corner but he headed wide.

Mowbray quickly reacted by bringing on James Morrison and Zoltan Gera and the Hungarian almost made an instant impact with a header, only for Oakes to make a fine save.

The Baggies began to dominate possession but City's defence held firm, Stephen McPhail doing well to clear a Brunt cross.

Oakes again had to be at his best to deny Filipe Teixeira's well-struck effort from 25 yards.

But the home side scored when Albrechtsen's header ricocheted off the underside of the bar and over the line.

West Brom continued to press for an equaliser and they were rewarded in the 88th minute, as the ball deflected off Johnson and looped over Oakes.

Ledley still had a golden chance to steal the points in stoppage time but he fired over the bar with the goal at his mercy.

Teams:

West Brom Kiely, Hoefkens, Pele (Morrison 57), Barnett, Albrechtsen, Greening, Koren (Gera 57), Filipe Teixeira, Brunt, Miller (Bednar 13), Phillips.

Subs Not Used: Steele, Hodgkiss.

Booked: Greening.

Goals: Bednar 35, Albrechtsen 72, Johnson 88 og.

Cardiff Oakes, McNaughton (Blake 32), Johnson, Loovens, Capaldi, Whittingham, McPhail, Rae, Ledley, Parry, Hasselbaink (Thompson 73).

Subs Not Used: Enckelman, Purse, Ramsey.

Goals: Parry 1, 33, Ledley 52.

Att: 22,325

Ref: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire).