Report: Barrie McAuliffe. Image: Huw Evans Agency

Snap Shot: Cardiff City dragged back a point away at Derby County on Saturday in a match that had seen more than a fair share of questionable decisions to frustrate both managers.

The Rams had the better of the first half as City looked lacklustre in all departments compared to the fine display seen at Barnsley. The Derby goal however came through a combination of a dodgy call and no free-kick when McPhail was tripped. The resulting corner saw City too spread out at the back, allowing Albrechtsen a free shot t to send the Pride Park faithful into life.

Cardiff showed signs of coming back into the match, but were missing the killer touch to see anything come their way. In the second half however their tenacity going forward resulted in a penalty being awarded as Miles Addison brought down Joe Ledley on the edge of the area. Making no mistake from the spot-kick was Ross McCormack, who gave Cardiff a share of the spoils. Te unbeaten run continues. Next up comes the Carling Cup on Tuesday. Cardiff are currently seventh on eleven points.

Team News: Speculation over possible team changes from the midweek Barnsley win proved unfounded as Dave stuck to the same eleven starters and bench places to take on the Rams.

Cardiff: Heaton, McNaughton, Purse, R. Johnson, Comminges, Ledley, McPhail, Rae, Whittingham, Parry, McCormack. Subs: Enckelman, Gyepes, Bothroyd, E. Johnson, Morris

One change came to the starting derby eleven, as Rob Hulse had come through the dead leg that had kept him out of contention for Swansea. He replaced Kazmierczak, who took up a spot on the bench.

Derby: Carroll, Connolly, Green, Stewart, Villa, Hulse, Leacock, Addison, Barazite, Pearson, Albrechtsen. Subs: Bywater, Kazmierczak, Ellington, Nyatanga, Davies

Match build-up: The Pride Park atmosphere was odd to say the least, as a girl in white spandex was paraded around the ground by two blokes with cables attached to their groin . . . no, really. Strange aqua music was also played to all but send us to sleep.

Well, that was until she was caught by a stray ball from the Derby goalkeeper coaches. She was dazed slightly, but still managed an obligatory Ayatollah to the seventeen hundred City fans in the South stand corner. Fair play also to the Derby mascot character 'Rammy' for taking travelling City mascot Toby Oates to the Bluebirds supporters present for a round of applause.

Chronological Report: Surely not down to the balloon girl, the opening five minutes were relatively sedate on the pitch, while massive credit had to go the City fans who turned up the volume in Pride Park. Both teams were finding their feet and producing a few stray passes to prevent any forward impetus being maintained.

The first chance of note came after seven minutes for the home side as some neat build up play presented Pearson with the ball wide left. He then sent a clever cross which was met by Hulse in the box, who in turn set the ball to Addison, only for Heaton to rush and collect under pressure.

Derby continued to press more, with long balls fired regularly from Carroll in the Rams goal. A second chance closely followed as pressure in midfield gave Barazite the option to thread the ball into the box, though an outstretched Villa couldn't connect.

Cardiff were failing to get the ball moving through midfield and were lacking the creativity shown at Barnsley in the opening twenty minutes - the first test for Carroll coming as a mix up gave McCormack the ball forty yards out, with the former Man Utd 'keeper out of position. Ross naturally had to chance his arm with a lofted shot from distance, though despite the ball being on line was over hit to sail over the bar.

It was a chancer effort, but the shot proved to pave the way for a spell of better movement and pressure from Cardiff. Next up came Whittingham, who took the ball on the edge of the ox, skipped and tricked his way past two derby players before dragging a low shot across goal.

McCormack then began to bring himself into the match with a few efforts to spur confidence - the first coming as a shot come cross was deflected on the right for a corner after twenty minutes, followed by another effort three minutes later that was drilled over the bar.

It was looking a lot more positive from a City perspective, but close to the half hour a cruel blow came our way, thanks in large part to the officials. A Rams attack broke on the right, with McPhail looking to have the ball covered from Emanuel Villa, but a trip from the Derby man went unpunished, allowing Villa to surge towards the by-line, winning a corner from Roger Johnson.

Brief protests to the linesman (who was spot on to see the trip) aside, Barazite whipped in the corner from the right, seeing the ball find Albrechtsen unmarked at the back stick after a six yard box melee. The Rams man took the gift without pausing, smashing the ball into the net from close range to send the Pride Park fans into life.

GOAL: DERBY 1 - 0 CARDIFF. Albrechtsen. 29 mins

The goal naturally gave the Derby fans a platform to build on after being largely silent for the opening half hour. The following minutes also saw Derby settled after soaking in pressure from their visitors. Cardiff meanwhile chased and harried, but were still missing their killer touch - best efforts coming from Joe Ledley on the left.

The best of the remainder of the first half were in the form of Peter Whittingham winning a late corner with a neat touch, though the forty five was summed up by the resulting delivery, the ball coming out to Steve McPhail, who stepped in and sent too soft a shot straight at Carroll.

The last action of note came as Derby had a small penalty shout as Green fell in the box. From our vantage point it looked as if it would have been a cruel call, but the word in the press box was 2we've seen them given".

The half time break came after a solitary minute of added time. The guess was that Dave would be demanding more steel from his until now excellent defence, while asking questions of the intent from the forward runners.

HALF TIME: DERBY 1 - 0 CARDIFF

Derby came out quickly after the break with a solo run from Barazite in the opening sixty seconds breaking the Cardiff defences apart far too easily. He sent the ball into the area, the ball came back out his way and the shot was misdirected from goal

The Rams were setting a marker and looking more the prospect than erly season credit had suggested. Two minutes later further pressure on the right gave Pearson a ball to run on to in a dangerous spot in the area, but to his credit Heaton rushed out to collect under pressure.

A brief show of skill from Whittingham aside, Cardiff were out of sorts and looking second best to Derby. An uncharacteristic McPhail slip after fifty minutes then could have seen derby extend their lead as Villa was gifted the ball only to shoot wide when having time to check his effort.

Cardiff began to bring themselves into the half more as time continued, with DaveJones then looking to give the forward line more options by introducing Bothroyd to pair McCormack. Off went Whittingham with Parry switching to right midfield.

The travelling fans in the South Stand were playing their part in trying to get their team back into the game - though the banter from both sets of supporters deserved credit. Joe Ledley after sixty one minutes looked to respond by firing a cross to Paul Parry, who turned and fired a shot which Albrechtsen blocked for a corner.

Derby were feeling the pressure slightly, illustrated as Jordan Stewart's mistaken back-pass was saved from embarrassment as Carrol shot out a leg to deny the ball trickling in.

Derby made a change of their own after sixty five minutes, introducing Steve Davies for Pearson.

A minute later the Bluebirds were given hope, despite the claims from the home support to the contrary. A quick break came from Cardiff on the right through Paul Parry, who then set the ball back to McCormack on the edge of the area. With few options due to oncoming pressure, Ross threaded the ball to Joe Ledley, who after connecting was clipped just inside the area by Addison.

The referee pointed to the spot immediately despite Rams protests. First to grab the ball was Ross McCormack who despite considerable pressure from the home support generated atmosphere made no mistake with a sweetly struck spot kick to see us back on level terms. The only word in my mind through blue tinted specs was 'justice'.

GOAL: DERBY 1 - 1 CARDIFF. McCormack, 68 (pen)

As had the Derby goal lifted the home side in the first half, Cardiff responded well to the equaliser, firing forward at the Rams at every opportunity.

Dave gave Eddie Johnson a chance to play with thirteen minutes, giving McCormack a chance to rest with the upcoming Carling Cup fixture on Tuesday.

The Pride Park support were becoming more frustrated as the second half continued, aggrieved by a number of referee decisions. We knew the feeling.

With nine minutes remaining, City could have taken more than a point as a long ball saw Bothroyd run free, even though the majority of the home supporters were calling for offside. With no flag or whistle coming, Jay gave the ball to Eddie - and with the USA international shooting the ball was whipped from under his feet for a corner call - even with more than a hint of a shout for a penalty.

The introduction of the Duke, Nathan Ellington was taken by Jewell as a means to give the Rams one last throw of the dice - but despite his and Derby's efforts. Three minutes of added time were seen out for a credible and welcomed point.

Next up comes the break of Carling Cup action and a certain Swansea City on Tuesday. We then welcome Birmingham to Ninian Park on Saturday for what should be a massive encounter and test for Dave Jones and Cardiff City's promotion credentials.

FULL TIME: DERBY 1 - 1 CARDIFF

Derby: Carroll, Connolly, Albrechtsen, Leacock, Stewart, Barazite, Addison, Green, Pearson (Davies 66), Villa, Hulse (Ellington 83).
Subs Not Used: Bywater, Kazmierczak, Nyatanga.

Goals: Albrechtsen 30.

Cardiff: Heaton, McNaughton, Purse, Roger Johnson, Comminges, Whittingham (Bothroyd 56), McPhail, Rae, Ledley, Parry, McCormack (Eddie Johnson 78).
Subs Not Used: Enckelman, Gyepes, Morris.

Goals: McCormack 69 pen.