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Cardiff City vs West Bromwich Albion. Sky Bet Championship.

Cardiff City StadiumAttendance20,758.

Cardiff City 1

  • P Whittingham (8th minute pen)

West Bromwich Albion 1

  • G Zuiverloon (49th minute)

Baggies fight back to go top

West Brom returned to the top of the Championship after coming from behind to draw at high-flying Cardiff.

Zuiverloon equalises Whittingham penalty to send Baggies to summit

West Brom returned to the top of the Championship on goal difference after coming from behind to draw at high-flying Cardiff. Peter Whittingham put the Bluebirds ahead in the eighth minute from the penalty spot after Jay Bothroyd was fouled by Jonas Olsson. But the Baggies drew level when Gianni Zuiverloon slotted home on the stroke of half-time. Baggies substitute Chris Wood and Cardiff wide man Chris Burke then both wasted second-half chances to snatch victory. Injury and suspension had ravaged both sides going into the game, with Dave Jones missing six first-team players, while counterpart Roberto di Matteo was without nine. The pair will both welcome the point with the Bluebirds still just one behind fourth-placed rivals Swansea after Plymouth's late equaliser at Home Park.

High speed

The game started at high speed and the 20,758 inside the Cardiff City Stadium did not have to wait long for the opener. Bothroyd, who caused the visitors constant problems in the first half, rolled Albion centre-back Jonas in the area and the pair tangled before Bothroyd went to ground, resulting in an early spot-kick which Whittingham duly dispatched down the middle. The early breakthrough saw Cardiff sit back somewhat and, although Albion were posing little threat in response, Andy Slory was unlucky to see his shot rebound off the inside of a post having been played through by the talismanic Graham Dorrans. Cardiff lost goalscorer Whittingham to injury just before the half-hour mark as Jones' injury problems piled up further. Chris Burke, who was allowed a free run on goal before opening the scoring in Cardiff's 2-0 win at The Hawthorns in December, this time saw his effort saved by Scott Carson when presented with the same opportunity. But just as a pretty ordinary first half looked to be drawing to a close, Dorrans found the advanced Zuiverloon and his shot was pushed on to a post by Cardiff goalkeeper David Marshall before the right-back poked home from close range to level matters.
Second period
Chris Brunt fired into the side netting at the start of a second-half that continued in the same run-of-the-mill manner as the opening 45 minutes. The clash could have gone either way as the hour mark passed, with both sides enjoying the odd half chance without Carson or Marshall being seriously tested. Wood was then presented with a golden chance to put Albion ahead in the 70th minute but he could only send Zuiverloon's cross wide. And with five minutes remaining, Michael Chopra's pull-back found its way to Burke via Olsson's poor clearance but he could only fire wide when he really should have at least hit the target. Bothroyd, Ross McCormack and Simon Cox then all fired off target in the closing stages as the game finished all square.

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