Blackburn draw with Cardiff

Cardiff 1 Blackburn 1

It was not the return to Wales Blackburn manager Mark Hughes had hoped for, but at least he avoided the ignominy of becoming a high-profile FA Cup scalp.

Hughes, back in the principality four months after his resignation as Wales manager, faces a third-round replay at Ewood Park on January 19 after Rovers were held by boss Lennie Lawrence’s Championship relegation strugglers.

Rovers took the lead through Morten-Gamst Pedersen after five minutes, but City striker Alan Lee emerged the Bluebirds hero with the equaliser before the break.

Norwegian Pedersen, a late replacement for Brett Emerton who was forced to withdraw through illness, took midfielder David Thompson’s incisive through ball in his stride before coolly lofting his second goal of the season over the advancing Tony Warner.

Cardiff, who had come into the match on the back of a four-game unbeaten and three successive clean sheets, were thrown out of their stride and Blackburn should perhaps have put the tie beyond Cardiff’s reach.

After Rhys Weston had failed to cope with a looping cross from Thompson, Pedersen was quick to pounce on the loose ball and drove in an 18-yard shot that was disappointingly off target.

Within seconds Rovers were on the offensive again with Paul Dickov looking to double the advantage, but Warner was alert as he raced off his line to block the attempted chip.

City may have been slow out of the blocks but they picked up the pace, aided by Rovers’ indiscipline as referee Steve Dunn was forced to book Andy Todd and Dominic Matteo before the Bluebirds grabbed their equaliser.

Matteo’s booking in particular, for a clash with Richard Langley which prompted a heated reaction from a number of Cardiff players, seemed to stir the home side into life.

They had previously only mustered one chance, an off-target Cameron Jerome header, before they drew level 10 minutes from the break.

Weston delivered a high, hanging cross into the area, and Lee out-jumped his markers to loop a header over the static Brad Friedel, the ball hitting the underside of the crossbar and then the American’s arm before crossing the line.

Hughes’ problems intensified when Lucas Neill became the third Rovers player to have his name taken before the break, while skipper Barry Ferguson was replaced due to injury as the half drew to a close.

It allowed South Africa international Aaron Mokoena, a £300,000 (€429,800) buy from RC Ghenk this week, to make his debut.

Blackburn at least had two half chances to start the second period as they attempted to settle again, although Garry Flitcroft was high over the crossbar with a 20-yarder, while Thompson saw his effort blocked by James Collins.

Friedel was then almost caught unawares again soon after, this time by a dipping, long-range shot from Junichi Inamoto.

Warner came to the fore in the 66th minute, brilliantly turning aside a goal-bound shot on the turn from Paul Dickov.

It was the Scotland international’s challenge on the Cardiff goalkeeper a minute earlier that led to Thompson’s goal being cancelled out by Dunn, much to Hughes’ disbelief as he was all set to celebrate a potential winner.

But that was as close as either side came to settling what ultimately finished a tame encounter, although with both clubs in the hat for Monday’s fourth-round draw.