Gerrard spoils the party for Fowler

ROBBIE FOWLER received a bear-hug from Rafael Benitez and a standing ovation from the Kop, but he could do little to stop Steven Gerrard driving Liverpool into the Carling Cup quarter-finals.

There was to be no magic homecoming for 32-year-old Fowler, a legend at Anfield after blasting 183 goals in a tremendous 369-game Liverpool career.

Cardiff did all they could. They battled bard, forced an equaliser through skipper Darren Purse and were pounding away at Liverpool to the death. But Gerrard was the difference, with a typical surging run and shot producing the winner after Purse had levelled following a long-range goal from reserve midfielder Nabil El Zhar.