Brighton and Cardiff battled to a stalemate where the lack of a goal was due mostly to excellent goalkeeping.

Home stopper Tomasz Kuszczak and David Marshall produced a series of top-class saves as Brighton claimed their first point in the Championship this season.

The pick of Kuszczak's efforts was a double save in the 77th minute to deny Joe Mason and Etien Velikonja.

Marshall's high spots were keeping out goal-bound efforts from Brighton pair Craig Mackail-Smith and Bruno Saltor.

The goalmouth action started early as Bluebirds defender Ben Turner saw his goal-bound header from Peter Whittingham's seventh-minute corner blocked by Brighton striker Mackail-Smith.

Craig Bellamy then crashed a 30-yard shot straight into the hands of Kuszczak.

Brighton took a little longer to get going, but Marshall was forced to hold Ashley Barnes' angled drive in the 12th minute before the visitors threatened again.

Cardiff defender Andrew Taylor swung over a decent cross, but Bellamy's strike partner Heidar Helguson steered the ball over the bar from six yards.

Mackail-Smith went close to giving the Seagulls the lead, only to see Marshall parry the ball to safety at full stretch.

The Scotland international then kept out Craig Noone's angled effort from inside the penalty area before the action shifted to the other end.

Whittingham's excellent free-kick from 25 yards - after he was fouled by Brighton defender Gary Dicker - brought the best out of Kuszczak.

The excitement for a record 25,518 crowd at the Amex Stadium continued after half-time, with Whittingham's curling effort flying just wide before Brighton's Spanish defender Saltor was superbly denied by Marshall.

Cardiff midfielder Don Cowie let fly from 30 yards, but was thwarted by Kuszczak as both sides went in search of the winner.

Kuszczak came to Brighton's rescue one last time with a fine double save to deny Mason and substitute striker Velikonja, who had replaced Helguson moments earlier, in quick succession.

Lineup, Bookings (1) & Substitutions (6)

Brighton & Hove Albion

  • 29 Kuszczak
  • 02 Bruno
  • 03 Greer
  • 06 El-Abd
  • 28 Bridge
  • 08 Crofts
  • 11 Noone (Vicente - 82' )
  • 18 Dicker (Harley - 82' )
  • 26 Bridcutt
  • 09 Barnes (LuaLua - 63' )
  • 12 Mackail-Smith

Substitutes

  • 16 Ankergren
  • 05 Dunk
  • 14 Calderon
  • 15 Vicente
  • 17 Harley
  • 25 LuaLua
  • 23 Agdestein

Cardiff City

  • 01 Marshall
  • 02 McNaughton
  • 03 Taylor
  • 05 Hudson
  • 06 Turner
  • 07 Whittingham
  • 08 Cowie
  • 17 Gunnarsson
  • 18 Mutch Booked (Mason - 46' )
  • 22 Helguson (Velikonja - 77' )
  • 39 Bellamy (Conway - 73' )

Substitutes

  • 32 Lewis
  • 04 Kiss
  • 11 Conway
  • 23 Blake
  • 09 Velikonja
  • 10 Earnshaw
  • 20 Mason
Ref: Halsey
Att: 25,518

Match Stats

Shots

16 10

On target

9 6

Corners

14 5

Fouls

5 10

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +3:18 Full time

Full Time The referee blows for the end of the match.

90:00 +2:07

Ben Turner challenges Rodriguez Vicente unfairly and gives away a free kick. Rodriguez Vicente produces a shot on goal direct from the free kick, save by David Marshall.

89:38

Shot from outside the box by Wayne Bridge misses to the left of the goal.

88:42

Joe Mason gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Kazenga LuaLua. Free kick crossed by Rodriguez Vicente, Ben Turner makes a clearance.

88:11

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Kazenga LuaLua by Peter Whittingham. Wayne Bridge takes the direct free kick.

86:20

Saltor Bruno gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Craig Conway. Peter Whittingham takes the direct free kick. Craig Conway has shot on goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.

85:00

Centre by Craig Conway.

83:31

Foul by Rodriguez Vicente on Kevin McNaughton, free kick awarded. Peter Whittingham restarts play with the free kick.

81:19 Substitution

Substitution Ryan Harley comes on in place of Gary Dicker.

81:19 Substitution

Substitution Craig Noone leaves the field to be replaced by Rodriguez Vicente.

81:19

Shot by Kazenga LuaLua from outside the area goes high over the crossbar.

79:13

Kevin McNaughton concedes a free kick for a foul on Kazenga LuaLua. Kazenga LuaLua takes the free kick. Shot from outside the penalty box by Kazenga LuaLua goes wide right of the goal.

76:31

Joe Mason takes a shot from 18 yards. Save made by Tomasz Kuszczak. Etien Velikonja takes a shot. Save by Tomasz Kuszczak.

76:31 Substitution

Substitution Etien Velikonja joins the action as a substitute, replacing Heidar Helguson.

74:55

Centre by Saltor Bruno, Don Cowie manages to make a clearance.

71:53

Tomasz Kuszczak takes the indirect free kick.

71:53 Substitution

Substitution Craig Bellamy leaves the field to be replaced by Craig Conway.

71:53

Don Cowie has an effort at goal from 30 yards. Save by Tomasz Kuszczak. The official flags Heidar Helguson offside.

71:16

The ball is crossed by Kazenga LuaLua, Mark Hudson makes a clearance.

70:13

Unfair challenge on Kazenga LuaLua by Peter Whittingham results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Gary Dicker.

69:14

Kazenga LuaLua produces a cross, Mark Hudson makes a clearance. Craig Noone takes the outswinging corner, clearance by Ben Turner.

69:14

The ball is delivered by Kazenga LuaLua, clearance by Mark Hudson. Outswinging corner taken by Craig Noone from the left by-line, Mark Hudson manages to make a clearance.

68:01

The ball is sent over by Liam Bridcutt, Mark Hudson makes a clearance.

67:12

The ball is delivered by Craig Noone.

66:23

Shot by Craig Noone. David Marshall makes a save.

66:11

The ball is delivered by Craig Noone, Ben Turner manages to make a clearance.

64:36

Foul by Aron Gunnarsson on Craig Noone, free kick awarded. Liam Bridcutt takes the direct free kick. Kazenga LuaLua takes a shot from 25 yards.

62:44 Substitution

Substitution Kazenga LuaLua comes on in place of Ashley Barnes.

62:44 Substitution

Substitution (Brighton) makes a substitution, with Kazenga LuaLua coming on for Ashley Barnes.

62:27

Andrew Taylor sends in a cross, save by Tomasz Kuszczak.

60:35

Ashley Barnes produces a cross.

60:13

Liam Bridcutt fouled by Peter Whittingham, the ref awards a free kick. Saltor Bruno takes the direct free kick.

58:45

The ball is swung over by Craig Noone, blocked by Don Cowie. Craig Noone takes a corner.

58:25

Corner from the left by-line taken by Craig Noone, clearance by Peter Whittingham.

55:43

Andrew Crofts takes a shot. Ben Turner gets a block in. Corner taken left-footed by Craig Noone from the right by-line, Saltor Bruno takes a shot. Save made by David Marshall. Corner taken by Craig Noone from the right by-line, Ben Turner makes a clearance. Corner from the right by-line taken by Craig Noone, Unfair challenge on Adam El-Abd by Andrew Taylor results in a free kick. Tomasz Kuszczak takes the direct free kick.

55:03

Andrew Crofts crosses the ball, save by David Marshall.

52:24

The ball is swung over by Aron Gunnarsson, Wayne Bridge manages to make a clearance. Shot from just outside the box by Peter Whittingham misses to the right of the goal.

50:40

Andrew Taylor crosses the ball, Adam El-Abd makes a clearance. Peter Whittingham delivers the ball in from the corner.

49:37

Shot from just outside the box by Saltor Bruno goes over the bar.

49:01

Corner taken by Craig Noone from the right by-line played to the near post, clearance made by Peter Whittingham.

46:12

The ball is delivered by Andrew Taylor, Gordon Greer makes a clearance.

45:59

The ball is swung over by Andrew Taylor, Gordon Greer makes a clearance.

45:33

A cross is delivered by Andrew Taylor.

45:22

Kevin McNaughton crosses the ball.

45:01

The referee gets the second half started.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution Joe Mason on for Jordon Mutch.

45:00 +2:13 Half time

Half Time The whistle is blown to end the first half.

45:00 +1:21

Peter Whittingham sends in a cross, Adam El-Abd makes a clearance.

45:00 +0:45

The offside flag is raised against Ashley Barnes. Free kick taken by David Marshall.

44:07

Centre by Gary Dicker, Mark Hudson gets a block in. Outswinging corner taken by Craig Noone from the left by-line.

44:07

Gary Dicker delivers the ball, blocked by Mark Hudson. Outswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Craig Noone.

43:08

Wayne Bridge crosses the ball, clearance made by Don Cowie. Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Craig Noone from the left by-line.

42:34

Centre by Craig Noone, Ben Turner makes a clearance.

41:29

Foul by Craig Bellamy on Craig Noone, free kick awarded. Tomasz Kuszczak takes the free kick.

40:44

A cross is delivered by Andrew Taylor.

39:30

Aron Gunnarsson delivers the ball, Ashley Barnes gets a block in. Short corner taken by Craig Bellamy. The ball is crossed by Craig Bellamy.

38:59

Craig Bellamy crosses the ball, blocked by Saltor Bruno.

37:53

Centre by Craig Noone.

37:22

The ball is crossed by Aron Gunnarsson, blocked by Adam El-Abd.

36:48

Craig Mackail-Smith challenges Mark Hudson unfairly and gives away a free kick. Ben Turner takes the free kick.

35:28

Shot by Ben Turner from a long way out goes over the crossbar.

31:23

Gordon Greer concedes a free kick for a foul on Heidar Helguson. The free kick is delivered left-footed by Peter Whittingham from left wing, save by Tomasz Kuszczak. Short corner taken by Craig Bellamy from the left by-line, The ball is delivered by Don Cowie, Gary Dicker challenges Peter Whittingham unfairly and gives away a free kick. Strike comes in from Peter Whittingham from the free kick, save made by Tomasz Kuszczak.

30:48

The ball is crossed by Craig Bellamy, Liam Bridcutt manages to make a clearance.

27:35

Craig Noone takes a shot. Save made by David Marshall. Saltor Bruno is flagged offside by the assistant referee. David Marshall takes the indirect free kick.

25:58

A cross is delivered by Craig Noone, clearance by Ben Turner. Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Craig Noone, clearance made by Jordon Mutch. Short corner taken by Craig Noone from the right by-line.

24:21

Craig Noone crosses the ball, Ashley Barnes has a headed effort from close in and clears the bar.

21:08

Craig Mackail-Smith takes a shot. Blocked by Ben Turner. Craig Noone takes a short corner. Craig Mackail-Smith takes a shot. Save by David Marshall.

17:10

The offside flag is raised against Andrew Crofts. David Marshall takes the free kick.

16:44

Liam Bridcutt restarts play with the free kick.

16:44 Booking

Booking Jordon Mutch goes into the book for unsporting behaviour.

16:30

Jordon Mutch challenges Craig Noone unfairly and gives away a free kick.

15:31

The ball is crossed by Andrew Taylor, Heidar Helguson produces a right-footed shot from close in that goes over the bar.

14:10

Effort from the edge of the area by Craig Noone goes wide of the right-hand upright.

12:57

Craig Bellamy sends in a cross, Saltor Bruno manages to make a clearance.

11:29

Ashley Barnes takes a shot. Save by David Marshall.

10:16

Effort on goal by Craig Bellamy from 30 yards. Save made by Tomasz Kuszczak.

8:49

Kevin McNaughton delivers the ball, Saltor Bruno manages to make a clearance.

6:03

The ball is sent over by Jordon Mutch, clearance by Gordon Greer. Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Peter Whittingham, Ben Turner takes a shot. Clearance made by Craig Mackail-Smith.

7:47

Inswinging corner taken by Craig Bellamy from the left by-line, clearance by Adam El-Abd.

6:03

The ball is swung over by Jordon Mutch, Gordon Greer makes a clearance. Corner taken by Peter Whittingham from the right by-line, Ben Turner takes a shot. Clearance made by Craig Mackail-Smith.

3:53

The referee blows for offside against Craig Bellamy. Tomasz Kuszczak restarts play with the free kick.

3:11

Kevin McNaughton produces a cross, clearance by Adam El-Abd.

2:26

Corner taken by Craig Noone from the left by-line to the near post, Mark Hudson makes a clearance. Craig Noone takes a short corner.

1:48

Ashley Barnes takes a shot. Blocked by Ben Turner.

0:00

The ref blows the whistle to start the match.

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