Dimi Konstantopoulos committed an 81st-minute clanger to turn what seemed to be three crucial points into one for Cardiff and get Wolves out of jail in an exciting Coca-Cola Championship promotion clash.

The on-loan Coventry goalkeeper dropped Kyel Reid's left-wing cross over his own line, much to the despair of his team-mates and manager Dave Jones, who looked to have further dented his former employers' title hopes.

Michael Chopra, making his third debut for the Bluebirds, and Roger Johnson had put the home side ahead after Sylvan Ebanks-Blake's 21st league goal of the season on 11 minutes.

A draw was probably a fair reflection after a keenly-contested encounter but it means Wolves, who spent part of this week in La Manga to recharge their batteries, have still only registered one win from their last 10 league games.

Cardiff, in contrast, moved back into the play-off places having extended their unbeaten league run to 12 games.

Roared on by a boisterous home crowd, Wolves came within a lick of paint of taking the lead after just five minutes.

Chopra dallied with the ball for far too long on the edge of his own penalty area and when he was dispossessed the ball fell to Andy Keogh 12 yards out.

His shot across goal beat the despairing Konstantopoulos but bounced back off the far post.

But the home side did not have to wait long for the opener.

Michael Kightly took a short free-kick on the left and cut inside, evading a couple of challenges in the process, before laying the ball out wide to Matthew Jarvis.

He floated an inch-perfect cross to the far post where Ebanks-Blake was on hand to get the faintest of touches with his header.

Wolves should have made it 2-0 in the 28th minute when some great one-touch passing near Cardiff's area found Ebanks-Blake clean through.

His shot was well saved by Konstantopoulos but Keogh blasted the rebound over the bar from 10 yards with the goal at his mercy.

And the hosts were made to pay just minutes later as Chopra levelled.

Paul Parry did well on the right-hand byline and squared the ball back for the on-loan Sunderland striker to register his sixth league goal of the season.

Ross McCormack, with an open goal two yards out, then failed to connect with Parry's cross as both sides pressed for a second before the break.

It failed to materialise but three minutes after the restart Cardiff were ahead.

The impressive Parry floated over a corner and centre-back Johnson rose highest to head past Wayne Hennessey and stun the Molineux faithful.

Both sides showed plenty of endeavour as the second half wore on, but neither seriously threatened again until the 74th minute.

Gavin Rae threaded a neat throughball for Parry but the winger failed to get a goal to add to his two assists as his effort beat Hennessey but drifted the wrong side of a post.

And the visitors were left to rue the miss nine minutes from time as Konstantopoulos' own goal ensured both sides took a share of the spoils.

Teams

Wolverhampton Hennessey, Foley, Craddock, Berra,Ward (Stearman 80), Kightly, Henry, Edwards, Jarvis (Reid 76),Keogh (Vokes 76), Ebanks-Blake.

Subs Not Used: Higgs, Iwelumo.

Booked: Berra.

Goals: Ebanks-Blake 11, Konstantopoulos 81 og.

Cardiff Konstantopoulos, McNaughton (Comminges 90), Gyepes,Roger Johnson, Kennedy, McCormack (Whittingham 85), Rae,Ledley, Parry, Bothroyd (Burke 32), Chopra.

Subs Not Used: Owusu-Abeyie, Scimeca.

Goals: Chopra 31, Roger Johnson 48.

Att: 22,093

Ref: Darren Deadman (Cambridgeshire).