Cardiff City missed an opportunity to return to the play-off places as mid-table Burnley secured their first away draw of the season.

Ross Wallace and Martin Paterson had efforts saved by Cardiff keeper David Marshall in a dour first half.

The Bluebirds finally woke from their slumber in the final 20 minutes but failed to trouble Lee Grant.

Substitute Rob Earnshaw had Cardiff's best opportunity but he headed wide at the far post in stoppage time.

Moments earlier, a timely intervention by home defender Kevin McNaughton denied Chris McCann a potential winner for the visitors, who seemed content to hold onto a point as the game wore on.

They looked the more likely scorers in the first half, though, as they capitalised on a subdued display by Cardiff, who have now won only twice in their last 10 Championship games.

Junior Stanislas became the third Burnley player to test Marshall as half-time approached, while a string of corners and free kicks also troubled the home defence.

Mackay frustrated by Cardiff draw

The Bluebirds took 38 minutes to come to life when Joe Mason darted inside the Burnley box before having a shot blocked. He then forced Grant to make his first meaningful save after 65 minutes.

Aron Gunnarsson was then inches away from heading home an inviting cross from Liam Lawrence.

Sensing this was a game they needed to win to reenergise their play-off push, Cardiff tried everything in the final stages but lacked the guile to penetrate a resolute Burnley rearguard.

The final throw of the dice was Earnshaw's introduction for the ineffective Kenny Miller with 13 minutes remaining.

And the last chance fell to Earnshaw on 95 minutes but his header went wide after the striker failed to make decent contact.

Cardiff manager Malky Mackay: "If we'd got another two points today then it would have put us fourth.

"It's fine margins. It was a frustrating day and we had a lot of pressure in the second half.

"It was a game where you are hoping the ball goes in off someone's backside."

Burnley manager Eddie Howe: "I'm delighted with the way the lads played and we can take a lot of positives.

"We tried to implement a passing style at the start of the season but we didn't get the results. We eventually got some and, long term, it's the best way to go.

"Burnley fans crave good football and it will benefit us in the end."

Lineup, Bookings (3) & Substitutions (6)

Cardiff City

  • 01 Marshall
  • 02 McNaughton
  • 03 Taylor
  • 05 Hudson
  • 25 Turner
  • 07 Whittingham
  • 08 Cowie (Conway - 63' )
  • 13 Lawrence
  • 17 Gunnarsson (McPhail - 85' )
  • 09 Miller (Earnshaw - 78' )
  • 20 Mason

Substitutes

  • 22 Heaton
  • 11 Conway
  • 23 Blake
  • 37 McPhail
  • 10 Earnshaw

Burnley

  • 01 Grant
  • 02 Trippier Booked
  • 03 Lafferty Booked
  • 04 Duff
  • 15 Edgar
  • 06 McCann
  • 07 Wallace
  • 08 Marney Booked
  • 11 Stanislas (Bartley - 73' )
  • 10 Paterson (Austin - 84' )
  • 14 Ings (McQuoid - 90' )

Substitutes

  • 12 Jensen
  • 36 Mee
  • 19 McQuoid
  • 20 Bartley
  • 23 Austin
Ref: Williamson
Att: 21,276

Match Stats

Shots

9 10

On target

5 2

Corners

2 6

Fouls

12 9

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +7:27 Full time

Full Time The match has reached full-time.

90:00 +5:32

Charlie Austin produces a right-footed shot from the edge of the area and misses to the left of the goal.

90:00 +4:09

Headed effort from deep inside the area by Robert Earnshaw misses to the left of the goal.

90:00 +3:56

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Joe Mason by Michael Duff. Direct free kick taken by Stephen McPhail.

90:00 +2:02

Unfair challenge on Ross Wallace by Stephen McPhail results in a free kick. Lee Grant takes the direct free kick.

90:00 +1:21

Corner taken by Craig Conway, clearance by Charlie Austin.

90:00 +1:21 Substitution

Substitution Josh McQuoid joins the action as a substitute, replacing Danny Ings.

87:58

Mark Hudson produces a overhead kick right-footed shot from deep inside the penalty box which goes wide of the left-hand upright.

87:14

David Marshall restarts play with the free kick.

87:14 Booking

Booking The referee books Danny Lafferty for unsporting behaviour.

87:00

Foul by Danny Lafferty on Kevin McNaughton, free kick awarded.

83:44 Substitution

Substitution (Cardiff) makes a substitution, with Stephen McPhail coming on for Aron Gunnarsson.

83:44 Substitution

Substitution Charlie Austin is brought on as a substitute for Martin Paterson.

82:36

Liam Lawrence gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Danny Ings. Chris McCann restarts play with the free kick.

81:02

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Craig Conway by Ross Wallace. David Marshall restarts play with the free kick.

77:18

Kieran Trippier takes the free kick.

77:18 Substitution

Substitution Kenny Miller leaves the field to be replaced by Robert Earnshaw.

77:18

Free kick awarded for a foul by Peter Whittingham on Marvin Bartley.

75:56

Chris McCann gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Liam Lawrence. David Marshall restarts play with the free kick.

74:10

David Marshall takes the direct free kick.

74:10 Booking

Booking Kieran Trippier is given a yellow card.

73:29

Kieran Trippier gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Craig Conway.

72:05 Substitution

Substitution Marvin Bartley comes on in place of Junior Stanislas.

72:05

Andrew Taylor has an effort at goal from outside the penalty area which goes wide right of the goal.

70:15

Peter Whittingham crosses the ball from the free kick left-footed from left channel, clearance made by Danny Ings.

70:15 Booking

Booking Dean Marney shown a yellow card.

69:47

Free kick awarded for a foul by Dean Marney on Liam Lawrence.

68:57

Craig Conway concedes a free kick for a foul on Dean Marney. Free kick taken by Dean Marney.

62:08 Substitution

Substitution Don Cowie leaves the field to be replaced by Craig Conway.

59:55

Kevin McNaughton gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Danny Lafferty. Strike comes in from Junior Stanislas from the free kick.

57:10

Unfair challenge on Danny Ings by Peter Whittingham results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Dean Marney.

55:30

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Ross Wallace from the right by-line. Kieran Trippier has an effort at goal from outside the penalty box which goes wide left of the goal.

54:52

Danny Lafferty concedes a free kick for a foul on Peter Whittingham. Free kick taken by David Marshall.

53:51

Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Liam Lawrence, Kieran Trippier manages to make a clearance.

53:23

Junior Stanislas takes a shot. Ben Turner gets a block in.

45:01

The referee blows his whistle to start the second half.

45:00 +2:21 Half time

Half Time The ref blows to signal half-time.

43:47

Kenny Miller takes a shot. Lee Grant makes a save.

42:34

The referee blows for offside. Lee Grant takes the indirect free kick.

38:12

Peter Whittingham concedes a free kick for a foul on Chris McCann. Free kick taken by David Edgar.

37:49

Joe Mason has a drilled shot. Dean Marney gets a block in.

37:09

Unfair challenge on Andrew Taylor by Ross Wallace results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Andrew Taylor.

36:41

Joe Mason takes a shot. Save by Lee Grant.

35:33

Effort from the edge of the area by Danny Ings goes wide of the right-hand upright.

32:35

The assistant referee signals for offside against Martin Paterson. Indirect free kick taken by David Marshall.

31:57

The ball is crossed by Junior Stanislas, Ben Turner gets a block in. Corner taken by Junior Stanislas from the right by-line, Peter Whittingham makes a clearance.

31:18

Corner taken by Junior Stanislas played to the near post.

27:27

The official flags Don Cowie offside. Kieran Trippier restarts play with the free kick.

26:58

David Edgar has a headed effort at goal from close range which goes wide of the left-hand upright.

26:25

Foul by Aron Gunnarsson on Chris McCann, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Kieran Trippier.

25:15

Dean Marney fouled by Aron Gunnarsson, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Kieran Trippier.

25:02

Peter Whittingham takes a shot. Blocked by Dean Marney.

23:51

Kevin McNaughton produces a left-footed shot from just outside the penalty area that goes harmlessly over the target.

20:50

Unfair challenge on Chris McCann by Don Cowie results in a free kick. Ross Wallace delivers the ball from the free kick left-footed from left channel, Aron Gunnarsson manages to make a clearance.

20:09

Martin Paterson takes a shot. Save by David Marshall. Corner taken by Junior Stanislas from the left by-line, clearance made by Liam Lawrence.

18:48

Shot from just outside the area by Danny Ings goes over the bar.

18:07

Foul by Ben Turner on Martin Paterson, free kick awarded. David Edgar restarts play with the free kick.

16:15

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Kenny Miller by Dean Marney. Free kick crossed left-footed by Peter Whittingham.

14:38

Kenny Miller takes a shot. Save by Lee Grant.

9:27

Ross Wallace takes a shot. Save by David Marshall. Corner from the right by-line taken by Ross Wallace, Danny Lafferty produces a header from deep inside the six-yard box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.

8:10

Handball by Peter Whittingham. Dean Marney restarts play with the free kick.

5:32

Corner taken left-footed by Ross Wallace, Aron Gunnarsson makes a clearance.

3:28

Kevin McNaughton gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Danny Lafferty. Lee Grant takes the free kick.

0:00

The game gets underway.

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