Match ends, Cardiff City 1, Blackburn Rovers 1.
Cardiff City 1-1 Blackburn Rovers
- From the section Championship
Former Cardiff striker Rudy Gestede returned to deny the Bluebirds a win over Blackburn with a late equaliser.
Sean Morrison headed in Peter Whittingham's corner to break the deadlock with six minutes left.
Gestede levelled with a close-range strike in the 90th minute to leave Cardiff without a win in seven.
And a second 1-1 draw of 2014-15 means Blackburn have not won any of their last nine matches away in the league.
Rovers remained ninth in the table, 10 points off the play-off zone while Cardiff climbed two spots to 15th.
Gary Bowyer's side arrived in buoyant mood after a 4-1 FA Cup win over Stoke at the weekend.
Cardiff, who were tipped for an immediate return to the Premier League, went into the game with manager Russell Slade having already said that aim was "unrealistic".
The Bluebirds brought in Paul Trollope as head coach ahead of Blackburn's visit to Cardiff City Stadium.
And while Slade welcomed the appointment, he also expected Gestede to offer a threat up front.
Gestede delivered on that promise, much to the dismay of a home crowd, who saw Morrison use his 6ft 4in frame to good effect as he rose to meet Whittingham's feed.
With Trollope's vocal motivation from the sideline, Cardiff's zest returned from the opening minute.
Debutant Matthew Kennedy joined Craig Noone in threatening out wide while Eoin Doyle also caught the eye in his first home start since joining from Chesterfield.
Aron Gunnarsson denied Josh King from adding to his hat-trick against Stoke with with another goal.
Morrison seemed to have sealed three points with his effort, but Gestede earned a point as he fired home in the final minute of normal time.
Cardiff boss Russell Slade:
"It is frustrating we did not get all three points but that was a much better performance.
"There are signs of improvement and the pity is we were punished on the only occasion where we did not defend properly."
Blackburn boss Gary Bowyer:
"When you pick points up away from home you are happy. We conceded late, but we came back in a great manner.
"After the effort they put in against Stoke, the attitude and application of our lads was excellent."
Line-ups
Cardiff
- 1Marshall
- 2Peltier
- 5Ecuele Manga
- 36Morrison
- 4MaloneSubstituted forConnollyat 90+2'minutes
- 11Noone
- 17GunnarssonSubstituted forAdeyemiat 80'minutes
- 7Whittingham
- 30Kennedy
- 13DoyleSubstituted forRevellat 72'minutes
- 9Jones
Substitutes
- 16Connolly
- 18Adeyemi
- 21Ralls
- 22O'Keefe
- 29Revell
- 33Moore
- 40K Harris
Blackburn
- 30Steele
- 2Henley
- 4Kilgallon
- 5Hanley
- 14Olsson
- 19TaylorSubstituted forBrownat 88'minutes
- 10Cairney
- 29EvansSubstituted forSpearingat 52'minutes
- 32Conway
- 7King
- 39Gestede
Substitutes
- 3Spurr
- 9Brown
- 11Rhodes
- 13Eastwood
- 17Williamson
- 22Duffy
- 25Spearing
- Referee:
- Brendan Malone
- Attendance:
- 19,057
Match Stats
Home TeamCardiffAway TeamBlackburn
- Possession
- Home50%
- Away50%
- Shots
- Home12
- Away16
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away4
- Corners
- Home5
- Away5
- Fouls
- Home14
- Away11
Live Text
Full Time
Second Half ends, Cardiff City 1, Blackburn Rovers 1.
Attempt missed. Joshua King (Blackburn Rovers) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Tom Cairney with a cross following a set piece situation.
Foul by Bruno Ecuele Manga (Cardiff City).
Craig Conway (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Corner, Blackburn Rovers. Conceded by Lee Peltier.
Foul by Tom Adeyemi (Cardiff City).
Jason Steele (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Cardiff City. Matthew Connolly replaces Scott Malone because of an injury.
Foul by Tom Adeyemi (Cardiff City).
Jay Spearing (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Goal!
Goal! Cardiff City 1, Blackburn Rovers 1. Rudy Gestede (Blackburn Rovers) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner.
Attempt blocked. Chris Brown (Blackburn Rovers) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Tom Cairney.
Substitution
Substitution, Blackburn Rovers. Chris Brown replaces Chris Taylor.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match Kenwyne Jones (Cardiff City) because of an injury.
Foul by Tom Adeyemi (Cardiff City).
Tom Cairney (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Goal!
Goal! Cardiff City 1, Blackburn Rovers 0. Sean Morrison (Cardiff City) header from the centre of the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Peter Whittingham with a cross following a corner.
Corner, Cardiff City. Conceded by Grant Hanley.
Attempt missed. Alex Revell (Cardiff City) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left.
Attempt missed. Alex Revell (Cardiff City) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right.
Attempt saved. Grant Hanley (Blackburn Rovers) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Craig Conway.
Foul by Sean Morrison (Cardiff City).
Joshua King (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Attempt missed. Rudy Gestede (Blackburn Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Tom Cairney.
Foul by Peter Whittingham (Cardiff City).
Craig Conway (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Substitution
Substitution, Cardiff City. Tom Adeyemi replaces Aron Gunnarsson.
Attempt missed. Joshua King (Blackburn Rovers) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Craig Conway with a cross.
Lee Peltier (Cardiff City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Chris Taylor (Blackburn Rovers).
Hand ball by Alex Revell (Cardiff City).
Substitution
Substitution, Cardiff City. Alex Revell replaces Eoin Doyle.
Hand ball by Craig Conway (Blackburn Rovers).
Attempt missed. Rudy Gestede (Blackburn Rovers) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Craig Conway with a cross following a corner.
Corner, Blackburn Rovers. Conceded by Sean Morrison.
Matthew Kennedy (Cardiff City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Markus Olsson (Blackburn Rovers).
Attempt missed. Jay Spearing (Blackburn Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left.