Cardiff City 1 West Bromwich Albion 1

Last updated : 09 August 2006 By Footymad Previewer
Cardiff suffered a blow before kick-off when skipper Darren Purse was ruled out through injury. Roger Johnson replaced him to make his home debut.

West Brom were at full strength with former Wales international John Hartson leading their line.

Hartson's abrasive style brought two early free-kicks and he also forced Neil Alexander to palm behind an effort for a corner from which the visitors took a fourth minute lead.

When the cross came over it was flicked on and with the Bluebirds defence in a tangle, the ball rebounded off the crossbar and Zoltan Gera was on hand to side-foot into an empty net.

The Bluebirds were finding it difficult to make headway as the Baggies were quicker to the ball in the early stages and stronger in the tackle.

Steven Thompson did fashion a 15th minute chance for stand-in skipper Riccardo Scimeca but the midfielder sliced his shot wide.

The visitors could have doubled their lead in the 28th minute when Nathan Ellington broke free down the right before lashing a shot just inside the near post, but Alexander reacted brilliantly to club the ball behind for a corner.

Kerrea Gilbert came to City's rescue on the half hour when he hacked clear as Hartson was about to pounce.

The Bluebirds went straight back up-field to level with a superbly taken goal on 33 minutes.

Stephen McPhail swung a deep cross to the far post and Scimeca rose to head beyond Swiss keeper Pascal Zuberbuhler and into the corner of the net.

City were now well on top and both Thompson and Joe Ledley went close as the Bluebirds looked to go ahead.

Baggies boss Bryan Robson pulled off Ellington and put on an extra midfielder in Darren Carter three minutes before the break in an effort to stop free-flowing City but it was one-way traffic as the half came to a close.

City started the second period as they finished the first by sending waves of attacks against the Albion rearguard.

Hartson was left to fight a lonely battle up front as the Baggies tried to stem the tide of blue.

Kevin Campbell came on for the tiring Thompson and as the match drew to a close and Michael Chopra struck a first-time effort that whistled past the far post with the keeper rooted to the spot.