Cardiff City 1 Burnley 1: match report
Read a full match report of the Championship match between Cardiff City and Burnley at the Cardiff City Stadium on Tuesday February 15 2011.
Goal: Steve Thompson celebrates his late equaliser for Burnley against former club Cardiff Photo: ACTION IMAGES
By Graham Clutton 10:12PM GMT 15 Feb 2011
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Burnley"s Steve Thompson bit the hand that once fed him to put a serious dent in Cardiff City's automatic promotion hopes.
The former Bluebird headed home a Ross Wallace corner seven minutes from time to cancel out Michael Chopra's ninth goal of the season in first half stoppage time.
With three wins in four games behind them, and with the chasing pack warm on their heels, it was an opportunity missed for the Bluebirds for whom victory would have taken them to within three points of leaders Queens Park Rangers. For Burnley, who were slick and purposeful throughout, it was another valuable point in their quest to make an immediate return to the top flight.
"I was disappointed with the way we conceded the goal. We should not be letting in goals from set plays like that. Anyway, we should have had the game won by then" said Cardiff City manager Dave Jones, who felt his side coped with a poor playing surface but suffered at the hands of referee Roger East.
"The pitch wasn't the reason why we didn't win, that was down to the man in the middle!"
Early efforts from Chopra, who struck the bar, and Peter Whittingham, whose shot from a dozen yards was turned around the post by Lee Grant, set the trend for an absorbing first half during which Burnley had numerous opportuities of their own.
Chris Eagles, playing at the top of a five-man midfield, was twice denied by Tom Heaton, in the City goal, while Chris Iwelumo was inches away from converting a driven cross from full-back Tyrone Mears.
However, with seconds remaining in the first half, it was City who broke the deadlock when Chopra reacted quickest in front of goal to beat Grant from close range.
Iwelumo's blocked shot on the hour was Burnley's first, real chance of a second half that was tedious and predictable in comparison to the first. Still, the visitors battled relentlessly in pursuit of an equaliser and were duly rewarded when substitute Thompson headed home Wallace's 83rd-minute corner.
Match details
Cardiff (4-4-2): Heaton; Quinn (Blake 66), Hudson (capt), Keinan, McNaughton; Burke (Koumas 77), Olofinjana, Ramsay, Whittingham; Bothroyd, Chopra (Bellamy 66).
Burnley (4-5-1): Grant; Mears, Duff, Carlisle (capt), Fox; Wallace, Cork, Marney (Alexander 88), Rodriguez (Thompson 73), Eagles; Iwelumo (Austin 66). Booked: Marney 28, Fox 68.
Referee: R East (Wilts).
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