Points make prizes for Mowbray

Albion took a step closer to the automatic promotion places after their 0-0 stalemate at Ninian Park with Tony Mowbray insisting the Baggies deserved all three points. In a game where both teams had one eye on the weekend's semi-finals, Ishmael Miller came the closest to opening the scoring for the visitors smashing a shot of the bar with Roman Bednar and Zoltan Gera also having chances.

The point leaves Albion just two points away from second-placed Stoke and only three from leaders Bristol City with a game-in-hand on their rivals.

"It was a decent game and I thought we did enough to nick it," the Baggies' boss said.

"We created a lot more chances than they did. I think it was twice as many as Cardiff.

"Having said that, they probably had the best chance of the night.

"We came to get three points and, on the overall balance of play, in my view, we deserved them.

"Ultimately, we're slightly disappointed we didn't win the match.

"Even right at the death, Roman had a free header in the six-yard box.

"But we're very respectful of Cardiff. They're as good a football team as there is in this league.

"We're pleased to have come here and restricted them to a few opportunities."

The Baggies had previously conceded seven goals this term against Cardiff after a 4-2 defeat in the Carling Cup and a thrilling 3-3 draw at The Hawthorns earlier this season with Mowbray part expecting a shut-out prior to kick-off.

"After our previous two games against Cardiff this season produced six goals apiece, if you were a betting man, it was a stick-on 0-0 tonight!" he said.

"There were spells where there was only going to be one team that was going to win the game.

"We didn't quite manage to put the ball in the net but I felt we were the team driving the game for the majority of the time.

"But we'll take 0-0 and move on.

"At this stage of the season, every point is important."