Blackburn Rovers 1-1 Cardiff City

Cardiff striker Kenwyne Jones headed the first goal of the 2014-15 Football League season.

Cardiff City started their return to the Championship with a point as the Football League season opened with a draw at Blackburn Rovers.

Kenwyne Jones headed Cardiff ahead in the first half at the far post, having had a close-range header saved earlier.

The hosts were level before the break as Tom Cairney sent a 25-yard strike into the corner.

Neither side could threaten in a scrappy second half as the sides shared the points.

Kevin Kilbane - BBC Radio 5 live
"I think Blackburn were the better side but it is difficult to call how the season could go for these sides after the first game."Cardiff will be happy with the draw and there were positive signs for Blackburn. They have enough quality in this squad to cause a few sides trouble this season."

Blackburn ended last season unbeaten in 12 league matches and, despite being unable to add significantly to the squad in the summer due to lack of financial clout, were looking to build on that momentum.

They thought they should have had a penalty in the opening minutes when former Bluebird Rudy Gestede headed against Mark Hudson's hand but a free-kick was awarded, which Cairney wasted.

Television replays suggested that the offence took place inside the area.

Cardiff, relegated from the Premier League in May, managed just three wins in 17 league matches under boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer last season.

But, despite having just two available centre-backs to choose from, they looked a threat from set plays, taking the lead when Jones was left unmarked to head through Paul Robinson's hands after Hudson flicked on Peter Whittingham's free-kick.

The lead lasted until six minutes before half-time when Blackburn, looking short of ideas, capitalised on Whittingham's slip and Cairney fired expertly home from 25 yards.

Gestede headed Craig Conway's cross just wide as Blackburn started to look the more dangerous at the start of the second period.

Gary Bowyer's men dominated the possession but rarely managed to create any meaningful opportunities, while Cardiff looked increasingly content with the point.

Solskjaer still hopes to add to his squad before the end of the transfer window and both sides will aim to be in the promotion picture after another 45 games.

Blackburn Rovers manager Gary Bowyer:

"I thought we deserved a bit more. We had a lot the ball against a team who have just come down from the Premier League. We should have had a penalty in the first minute. We scored an outstanding goal. Cardiff changed their shape, a compliment to us, and we can take a lot of confidence.

"For all of their possession, perhaps the disappointment is we didn't create many chances but they brought a million pound player on. What does that say?

"Everyone is spending money in the Championship and we haven't been able to do that due to financial fair play. Beg, borrow or steal, we will see if we can add a couple. I will have a conversation with the people above me, but I understand we do have to comply with financial fair play."

Cardiff City manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer:

"We defended our goal well, I was pleased with the performance and the attitude of the lads, particularly defensively.

"We have come away against a good team and dug out a good result. Kenwyne Jones worked really hard and is getting his fitness together.

"In the second half we didn't play well with the ball but we sorted out the problems that Tom Cairney, especially, caused us in the first half.

"This is going to be a relentless season. I need a centre back in. We have loads of experience in this league and we had to have this here. Very happy with a point against one of the favourites."

Kenwyne Jones's goal ended a personal drought of 551 minutes for Cardiff

Blackburn have not won their opening-day game of a season since 2010

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is looking to guide Cardiff back to the Premier League at the first attempt

• Line-ups
• Match Stats
• Live Text

Line-ups

Blackburn

• 1Robinson
• 14Olsson
• 5Hanley
• 4KilgallonSubstituted forWilliamsonat 45'minutes
• 15Baptiste
• 29Evans
• 10Cairney
• 6LoweBooked at 30mins
• 32Conway
• 11Rhodes
• 39Gestede

Substitutes

• 7King
• 8Dunn
• 12Marshall
• 16Varney
• 17Williamson
• 19Taylor
• 34Kean

Cardiff

• 1Marshall
• 3da Silva
• 5HudsonBooked at 80mins
• 16Connolly
• 2BrayfordBooked at 45mins
• 7Whittingham
• 20DaehliSubstituted forAdeyemiat 55'minutes
• 17Gunnarsson
• 23Maynard
• 9JonesSubstituted forBurgstallerat 70'minutesBooked at 86mins
• 10Le FondreSubstituted forWolff Eikremat 87'minutes

Substitutes

• 12John
• 13Kim
• 15Wolff Eikrem
• 18Adeyemi
• 28Théophile-Catherine
• 30Burgstaller
• 33Moore

Referee:

Andy Madley

Attendance:

15,625

Match Stats

Home TeamBlackburnAway TeamCardiff

Possession

Home65%

Away35%

Shots

Home12

Away6

Shots on Target

Home3

Away3

Corners

Home4

Away5

Fouls

Home6

Away14

Live Text

Posted at

Match ends, Blackburn Rovers 1, Cardiff City 1.

Full Time

Posted at 90'+4'

Second Half ends, Blackburn Rovers 1, Cardiff City 1.

Posted at 90'+4'

Corner, Cardiff City. Conceded by Alex Baptiste.

Posted at 90'

Attempt missed. Craig Conway (Blackburn Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Tom Cairney following a set piece situation.

Posted at 89'

Rudy Gestede (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 89'

Foul by Mark Hudson (Cardiff City).

Posted at 88'

Jordan Rhodes (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 88'

Foul by Mark Hudson (Cardiff City).

Substitution

Posted at 87'

Substitution, Cardiff City. Magnus Wolff Eikrem replaces Adam Le Fondre.

Posted at 87'

Attempt missed. Tom Cairney (Blackburn Rovers) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Corry Evans.

Posted at 86'

Attempt saved. Grant Hanley (Blackburn Rovers) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Rudy Gestede with a headed pass.

Booking

Posted at 86'

Guido Burgstaller (Cardiff City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Posted at 85'

Craig Conway (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Posted at 85'

Foul by Guido Burgstaller (Cardiff City).

Posted at 82'

Foul by Rudy Gestede (Blackburn Rovers).

Posted at 82'

Matthew Connolly (Cardiff City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Booking

Posted at 80'

Mark Hudson (Cardiff City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Posted at 79'

Rudy Gestede (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 79'

Foul by Mark Hudson (Cardiff City).

Posted at 78'

Lee Williamson (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 78'

Foul by Adam Le Fondre (Cardiff City).

Posted at 77'

Corner, Cardiff City. Conceded by Grant Hanley.

Posted at 77'

Foul by Markus Olsson (Blackburn Rovers).

Posted at 77'

Adam Le Fondre (Cardiff City) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Posted at 75'

Foul by Corry Evans (Blackburn Rovers).

Posted at 75'

Adam Le Fondre (Cardiff City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 75'

Attempt missed. Guido Burgstaller (Cardiff City) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Nicky Maynard with a headed pass.

Posted at 71'

Foul by Corry Evans (Blackburn Rovers).

Posted at 71'

Adam Le Fondre (Cardiff City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 70'

Corner, Blackburn Rovers. Conceded by Matthew Connolly.

Substitution

Posted at 70'

Substitution, Cardiff City. Guido Burgstaller replaces Kenwyne Jones.

Posted at 66'

Grant Hanley (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 66'

Foul by Tom Adeyemi (Cardiff City).

Posted at 62'

Corner, Blackburn Rovers. Conceded by John Brayford.

Posted at 57'

Alex Baptiste (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 57'

Foul by Kenwyne Jones (Cardiff City).

Substitution

Posted at 55'

Substitution, Cardiff City. Tom Adeyemi replaces Mats Daehli.

Posted at 54'

Corner, Blackburn Rovers. Conceded by Mark Hudson.

Posted at 53'

Markus Olsson (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 53'

Foul by Adam Le Fondre (Cardiff City).

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