Snapshot: Cardiff produced an extremely brave performance to quell free-scoring Albion and battle their way to a stalemate at Ninian Park. For two sides that have produced 12 goals in two encounters this season it was perhaps inevitable that the goals would dry up at some stage, however that in no way tells the truth of the tale. City endeavoured through three second-half injuries which meant several players short of full-fitness were forced to complete 90 minutes and saw the Bluebirds end the game with no natural strikers on the field with the impressively hard-working Trevor Sinclair up-top on his own.

Team News: Kevin McNaughton returned at right-back following a three week lay-off through injury, Trevor Sinclair started on the right of midfield in place of Peter Whittingham who dropped to the bench while Aaron Ramsey dropped out of the 22 all together. Bluebird's fans would have been surprised but relieved to have seen Roman Bednar, Kevin Phillips and Chris Brunt all start the match from the sub's bench, how long they'd remain there however would be another matter.

Chronological Report

Clearly believing attack was the best form of defence against free-scoring West Brom the Bluebirds really took the match to their visitors early on and while they did indeed look dangerous attacking the Canton Stand the tactic very nearly back-fired at the other end. Trevor Sinclair knocked over a poor free-kick from the right that was easily dealt with by the Baggies defence and James Morrison came away with the ball and breaking fully 60-yards up field, for a moment he looked to have a two on one opportunity with Ishmael Miller up in support, he instead opted to go himself and Tony Capaldi stayed strong to get an all important foot in to force a corner. It was an early reminder, if we needed any of the immense attacking threats that West Brom possess in their ranks.

On six minutes Cardiff crafted a wonderful opportunity that will still have fans pondering how they didn't take the lead long after the final whistle. Rae found some space in the midfield and played an inside ball to Paul Parry he in turn slipped a lovely pass through to Steve Thompson who was playing on the defenders shoulders. All but Thomspon seemed to hesitate expecting/hoping for a flag only for the Scot to blaze the one on one chance over from 12-yards out. Thompson can't seem to buy a goal at Ninian Park at the moment having now gone the best part of four months without at home.

After the frantic opening the game bedded down into a midfield dominated battle but Cardiff continued to ask the more telling questions of a West Brom defence that can't stop leaking goals of late. Jonathan Greening seemed to think Thompson had intentionally caught him with an elbow during an aerial challenge and decided to demonstrate his point by chasing the Scotsman down and kicking him to the floor at the next available opportunity which was approximately six seconds later and unsurprisingly earned a free-kick for Cardiff.

If Cardiff fans were still scratching their heads at why they weren't a goal up now it was the Albion supporters turn to join them; Robert Koren got free down the left and squared a ball across the face of goal, a sliding challenge by Roger Johnson sent the ball careering off Miller and then fell to Zoltan Gera on the right of the box, he struck an effort that looked to be hitting the back of the net only for Glen Loovens to somehow get back and clear off the line. West Brom looked to up the tempo and Miller got free again down the left channel, he ran at Loovens and took on the early shot which he drove low to the near post and Enckelman did brilliantly to get down to and turn it around the post.

Widely considered the best player outside the Premiership, Zoltan Gera had been kept worryingly quiet thus far, that all changed around the half-hour mark as two chances fell to him in the space of as many minutes. Firstly Miller chested the ball down well and was allowed to turn midway in the Cardiff half, the Bluebirds defenders backed off as support players flooded forward which allowed Gera to try his luck from fully 25-yards but he didn't have his range. A minute later Morisson put over a cross from the left, Miller won the knock down in the 6-yard box and Gera swiped at it on the bounce with his left foot but he didn't have his range with that one yet either.

On forty minutes Parry danced his way in field from the left before sending a ball back out wide to Sinclair, his low cross was misjudged by Neil Clement and it somehow found its way to Parry who had wandered over to the back-post area, he shifted the ball onto his left foot but Martin Albrechtsen got a foot in and the ball ballooned up into Dean Kiely's arms.

HALF-TIME: CARDIFF CITY 0 - 0 West Bromwich Albion

Cardiff Substitution: Warren Feeney for Steve Thompson (45mins)

Feeney's first touch won a corner out on the left and his second could have ended up in the back of the net had he and Sinclair not got in each others way at the back-post off Joe Ledley's corner which meant the effort bobbled harmlessly wide for a goal-kick.

Cardiff Substitution: Peter Whittingham for Paul Parry (48mins)

Like many of the West Brom players Ishmael Miller had been pretty un-effective thus far however a moment of brute strength from himself nearly brought about the first goal and broke the woodwork in one go; he turned two markers on the right hand corner of the area and unleashed a rocket that flew behind off the stantion.

If ever you needed evidence that football is a horribly cruel game at times this is it; Feeney pulls up moments after coming on and despite trying to run off the injury is forced to concede defeat. He looks distraught and it's extremely difficult not to feel for him after the season he has had.

Cardiff Substitution: Riccardo Scimeca for Warren Feeney (54mins)

Neil Clement is shown a yellow card for clattering Capaldi out wide as the left-back bombed forward down the wing. From the free-kick a nod down fell to Joe Ledley at the edge of the box and he shaped to fire a half-volley home only for Pele to throw himself at the effort and deflect it bravely out for a corner. West Brom again failed to clear that set-piece and it fell on the left of the box to Whittingham who cut inside on his favoured left foot and smashed an effort goal-ward that seemed to strike the arm of Gera, even the Baggies fans seemed to agree it's just a shame the referee didn't share their sentiments.

West Brom Substitutions: Roman Bednar for Ishmael Miller, Chris Brunt for Zoltan Gera (67mins)

To say the game opened up would be an understatement; Capaldi got well down the left and Albrechtsen just got a touch in front of Ledley which meant the Welsh international could only direct his effort over the bar. Then Sinclair pounced on some confusion between Robinson and Kiely and took the ball around the stranded 'keeper, Trevor cut inside the box and squared the ball to a free Gavin Rae whose side-footed effort was blocked by Greening who was just one of several West Brom players that had scrambled back.

West Brom seemed to enjoy their bouts of goalmouth pinball however it wasn't reaping any results in the form of actual scores. A Roger Johnson miss-kick allowed Bednar to scramble a shot which deflected into the path of Morrison, his shot was parried by Enckelman but only to Koren who smashed a shot from point-blank range that again Cardiff's Finnish stopper managed to keep out. Enckelman again held firm minutes later when he held onto a stinging shot from Chris Brunt from just outside the area.

West Bromwich Substitution: Kevin Phillips for Robert Koren (74mins)

Kevin McNaughton seemed to get bored of all this defensive lark he was being made to do and ventured forward, a beautiful turn at midfield baffled two defenders and when he saw open field ahead of him he put his foot through a shot from 35-yards that sailed over the bar - top marks for effort and exuberance mind.

Whittingham slipped Sinclair in down the right-hand channel ended with a collision between him and Clement, im sure the ball was involved somewhere too, the referee seemed to think so too as he gives just a goal-kick. McNaughton wasn't the only full-back who wanted to get involved in the attacking action as a perfectly timed run by Capaldi allowed him to get on the end of McPhail's cross-field pass; he cut inside two would-be tacklers at the edge of the box and attempted an audacious right-footed chip which is ever so slightly adventurous for a left-footed defender.

It always seemed West Brom would create one final chance to steal all three points and indeed they did on the eighty-six minute mark; Kevin Phillips found himself in acres of space down the left and swung in an inch-perfect cross that found the head of Morrison centre of goal and just 6-yards out but he somehow headed it into the ground and it bounced up into the hands of Enckelman. Cardiff poured forward immediately through Ledley down the left and Sinclair rose to meet the cross but so did Albrechtsen who just did enough to rule out full contact and the header went over. That ensured the game ended in a fair draw and allowed both teams to finally focus full attention on their upcoming Wembley appearances.

Cardiff City XI: Enckelman, Capaldi, Loovens, Johnson, McNaughton, Ledley, Rae, McPhail, Sinclair, Parry (Whittingham 48mins), Thompson (Feeney 45mins replaced by Scimeca 54mins) Subs not used: Oakes, Purse

West Brom XI: Kiely, Robinson, Albrechtsen, Clement, Hoefkens, Morrison, Pele, Greening, Gera (Brunt 67mins), Koren (Phillips 74mins), Miller (Bednar 67mins)

Attendance: 13,913

Referee: M. Atkinson