Cardiff City 1-1 Blackburn Rovers

Blackburn's Craig Conway holds off Cardiff's Lee Peltier

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.

Sean Morrison heads in Cardiff's goal

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
• Match Stats
• Live Text

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

Posted at

Match ends, Cardiff City 1, Blackburn Rovers 1.

Full Time

Posted at 90'+5'

Second Half ends, Cardiff City 1, Blackburn Rovers 1.

Posted at 90'+5'

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.

Posted at 90'+4'

Foul by Bruno Ecuele Manga (Cardiff City).

Posted at 90'+4'

Craig Conway (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Posted at 90'+3'

Corner, Blackburn Rovers. Conceded by Lee Peltier.

Posted at 90'+3'

Foul by Tom Adeyemi (Cardiff City).

Posted at 90'+3'

Jason Steele (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Substitution

Posted at 90'+2'

Substitution, Cardiff City. Matthew Connolly replaces Scott Malone because of an injury.

Posted at 90'+1'

Foul by Tom Adeyemi (Cardiff City).

Posted at 90'+1'

Jay Spearing (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Goal!

Posted at 90'

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.

Posted at 90'

Attempt blocked. Chris Brown (Blackburn Rovers) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Tom Cairney.

Substitution

Posted at 88'

Substitution, Blackburn Rovers. Chris Brown replaces Chris Taylor.

Posted at 88'

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

Posted at 87'

Delay in match Kenwyne Jones (Cardiff City) because of an injury.

Posted at 86'

Foul by Tom Adeyemi (Cardiff City).

Posted at 86'

Tom Cairney (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Goal!

Posted at 84'

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.

Posted at 84'

Corner, Cardiff City. Conceded by Grant Hanley.

Posted at 82'

Attempt missed. Alex Revell (Cardiff City) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left.

Posted at 82'

Attempt missed. Alex Revell (Cardiff City) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right.

Posted at 82'

Attempt saved. Grant Hanley (Blackburn Rovers) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Craig Conway.

Posted at 81'

Foul by Sean Morrison (Cardiff City).

Posted at 81'

Joshua King (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Posted at 81'

Attempt missed. Rudy Gestede (Blackburn Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Tom Cairney.

Posted at 80'

Foul by Peter Whittingham (Cardiff City).

Posted at 80'

Craig Conway (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Substitution

Posted at 80'

Substitution, Cardiff City. Tom Adeyemi replaces Aron Gunnarsson.

Posted at 76'

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.

Posted at 74'

Lee Peltier (Cardiff City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 74'

Foul by Chris Taylor (Blackburn Rovers).

Posted at 74'

Hand ball by Alex Revell (Cardiff City).

Substitution

Posted at 72'

Substitution, Cardiff City. Alex Revell replaces Eoin Doyle.

Posted at 71'

Hand ball by Craig Conway (Blackburn Rovers).

Posted at 69'

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.

Posted at 69'

Corner, Blackburn Rovers. Conceded by Sean Morrison.

Posted at 68'

Matthew Kennedy (Cardiff City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 68'

Foul by Markus Olsson (Blackburn Rovers).

Posted at 67'

Attempt missed. Jay Spearing (Blackburn Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left.

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