Blackburn snatch late draw at Cardiff

Published on: 10 April 2021

Cardiff's Kieffer Moore and Lewis Travis of Blackburn (right) compete for possession

Cardiff City's fading play-off hopes dipped further as they conceded a last-minute equaliser to Blackburn Rovers.

Will Vaulks' powerful low strike put the home side ahead but Rovers levelled before half-time with an Adam Armstrong effort Alex Smithies should have saved.

Blackburn hit the post three times in the second half before substitute Joe Ralls restored Cardiff's lead.

But then Armstrong weaved his way into the Cardiff box and finished well to earn Rovers a deserved point.

Cardiff remain eighth in the Championship but are now nine points adrift of the play-off places, while Bournemouth - who are sixth - have a game in hand.

Blackburn stay 17th after a seventh match without a win.

Both teams wore black armbands and a two-minute silence was held to honour Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, who died on Friday, aged 99.

The match started with a quick tempo and chances for both sides, Armstrong firing wide for Blackburn before Cardiff striker Kieffer Moore chested a fine cross from Vaulks but mishit his shot.

There was then a contentious moment as the Bluebirds' Harry Wilson ran on to a long ball over the top of the visiting defence, only to be taken out by Blackburn goalkeeper Thomas Kaminsky, who was arguably fortunate only to be shown a yellow card.

Cardiff took the lead in the 27th minute, Wilson lining up a free-kick outside the penalty area but feigning to shoot and instead back-heeling the ball to Vaulks, whose drilled effort went in off the post.

Blackburn equalised shortly before half-time as Armstrong cut inside from the right wing and hit a low left-footed shot, which Smithies got a hand to but allowed to squirm into the net.

The visitors started the second half as they ended the first, with Sam Gallagher firing against the post with a firm strike and following up with another effort into the side netting.

Bradley Johnson then clipped the outside of the post with a curling shot, before Barry Douglas' whipped free-kick rattled the woodwork.

Just seconds after their latest reprieve, Cardiff counter-attacked and Ralls applied a smart, low finish to restore their lead.

There was still plenty of time for further chances, with Wilson looking to extend Cardiff's advantage with an audacious effort from the halfway line which was saved by the backtracking Kaminsky.

And although Armstrong pulled another shot wide for Blackburn, their top scorer would not be denied and his 90th-minute equaliser secured a draw which was the least Rovers deserved for their attacking endeavours in the second half.

Cardiff City manager Mick McCarthy:

"We've given away two goals at the end of each half, which is disappointing. I can't sit here and say they didn't deserve something from it, the second half certainly they played well.

"But when we've been in that situation, 2-1 up and with that to go, we've been good at keeping it. But unfortunately the last three games we haven't, so that's a disappointment.

"It feels like a defeat, conceding again in the 90th minute."

Blackburn Rovers manager Tony Mowbray:

"We're disappointed. As a team we know we have to win these games, in this recent run that's been the case with half of these games really.

"We've dominated most of the games we've had but Adam Armstrong hasn't been able to score, but today Adam got back to what we know he can do.

"We didn't lose, we showed spirit and character, we always try and find the positives and we didn't accept defeat."

    Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text

Line-upsCardiff

Formation 3-4-1-2

12Smithies16Nelson5Flint30Brown28Sang6Vaulks21Pack38Ng23Wilson11Murphy10Moore

    12Smithies16Nelson5Flint30Brown28Sang6Vaulks21Pack38Ng23WilsonSubstituted forWilliamsat 90+1'minutes11MurphyBooked at 44minsSubstituted forRallsat 63'minutesBooked at 75mins10Moore

Substitutes

    1Phillips2Osei-Tutu8Ralls15Williams19Watters27Ojo29M Harris33Hoilett40Colwill

Blackburn

Formation 4-3-3

1Kaminski2Nyambe26Lenihan22Harwood-Bellis15Douglas27Travis19Trybull4Johnson16Elliott7Armstrong9Gallagher

    1KaminskiBooked at 19mins2Nyambe26LenihanBooked at 65mins22Harwood-Bellis15Douglas27TravisSubstituted forDowningat 78'minutes19TrybullSubstituted forHoltbyat 78'minutes4JohnsonSubstituted forDolanat 78'minutes16ElliottSubstituted forDavenportat 78'minutes7Armstrong9GallagherSubstituted forBreretonat 79'minutes

Substitutes

    6Downing10Holtby13Pears17Bell18Davenport20Brereton30Branthwaite31Bennett39Dolan

Referee:Jeremy SimpsonMatch StatsHome TeamCardiffAway TeamBlackburnPossessionHome35%Away65%ShotsHome12Away20Shots on TargetHome6Away5CornersHome5Away2FoulsHome12Away10Live TextPost update

Match ends, Cardiff City 2, Blackburn Rovers 2.

90'+6'Full Time

Second Half ends, Cardiff City 2, Blackburn Rovers 2.

90'+4'Post update

Foul by Lewis Holtby (Blackburn Rovers).

90'+4'Post update

Perry Ng (Cardiff City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

90'+2'Post update

Foul by Darragh Lenihan (Blackburn Rovers).

90'+2'Post update

Kieffer Moore (Cardiff City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

90'+1'Substitution

Substitution, Cardiff City. Jonathan Williams replaces Harry Wilson.

90'goalGoal!

Goal! Cardiff City 2, Blackburn Rovers 2. Adam Armstrong (Blackburn Rovers) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Lewis Holtby.

88'Post update

Attempt missed. Ben Brereton (Blackburn Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Barry Douglas.

86'Post update

Attempt missed. Adam Armstrong (Blackburn Rovers) left footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Stewart Downing.

86'Post update

Offside, Cardiff City. Harry Wilson tries a through ball, but Will Vaulks is caught offside.

85'Post update

Corner, Cardiff City. Conceded by Thomas Kaminski.

85'Post update

Attempt saved. Harry Wilson (Cardiff City) left footed shot from more than 35 yards is saved in the bottom left corner.

84'Post update

Attempt blocked. Lewis Holtby (Blackburn Rovers) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Ryan Nyambe.

84'Post update

Attempt blocked. Barry Douglas (Blackburn Rovers) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Lewis Holtby with a cross.

82'Post update

Attempt blocked. Lewis Holtby (Blackburn Rovers) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Barry Douglas.

81'Post update

Tyrhys Dolan (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick on the right wing.

81'Post update

Foul by Perry Ng (Cardiff City).

79'Substitution

Substitution, Blackburn Rovers. Ben Brereton replaces Sam Gallagher because of an injury.

78'Substitution

Substitution, Blackburn Rovers. Tyrhys Dolan replaces Bradley Johnson.

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Source: bbc.com

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