by Steve Garland, from Glanford Park

Snapshot

The Bluebirds came back from a goal behind to battle to a 1-1 draw with Scunthorpe United at Glanford Park on Saturday.

Looking for their first double over the Iron since the 2000/1 season, the Bluebirds got off to a lacklustre start on the east coast as Scunthorpe dominated the early proceedings. And with just ten minutes gone Michael O'Connor confirmed Scunthorpe's first half dominance with a superb free-kick from just outside the area, curling his effort into the top right hand corner of the net to give his side a deserved early lead.

After a disappointing first half performance, a more determined Cardiff returned for the second half as they looked to take something back to South Wales. Jay Bothroyd and Anthony Gerrard both spurned glorious chances for an equaliser before Peter Whittingham's powerful shot deflected off Aaron Wildig and into the back of the net to draw the Bluebirds level with nine minutes remaining.

And after surviving a late penalty appeal from the home side for a push on substitute Jonathan Forte inside the area deep into stoppage time, Cardiff secured a hard earned point but slipped to fifth in the Championship table as a result.

Chronological Report

After a run of three games without a win, the Bluebirds travelled to the east coast to face Scunthorpe United, looking to end their poor run of form with a much needed seventh away victory of the season.

However, Scunthorpe, buoyed by an impressive 4-1 away win at Derby County last time out showed their confidence early on as they controlled the early proceedings.

Playing some neat football at times, Gary Thompson and Gary Hayes both had early shots on goal to show their intentions, but with just over ten minutes gone the Iron would gain the early advantage as Anthony Gerrard was deemed to have hand balled on the edge of the penalty area. Former Crewe Alexandra midfielder Michael O'Connor stepped up to take the free-kick and provided the perfect execution to curl the ball into the top right corner of the net and give the Iron an early lead.

GOAL: Scunthorpe United 1-0 Cardiff City(Michael O'Connor 10 mins)

Cardiff's threadbare squad had struggled to create any chances of note, too often conceding possession cheaply to scupper any chance of an opening. With the City defence rattled by Scunthorpe's early opener, it was the Iron who looked the more likely to double their lead, Martyn Woolford coming close with a shot out of nothing with just under quarter of an hour gone.

Scunthorpe were proving successful with some simple passing play and with the Bluebirds to often looking to the long ball route, the Iron were firmly in command of this game with twenty minutes gone. Indeed it took until the twenty second minute for Chris Burke to bring Cardiff's first shot on target, briefly warming Scunthorpe keeper Lillis' hands.

City's midfield problems were evident as the young partnership of Wildig and Ledley appeared to lack the bite needed to control play against an Iron midfield strong as steel. Striker's Bothroyd and Chopra were having to feed off the scraps given to them by the Iron defence and Bothroyd's first sight of goal came with just under half an hour gone, hitting a venomous shot into the arms of keeper Lillis.

The Bluebirds were failing to test the league's worst defence on paper as they struggled to maintain possession and get the ball to the creative forces of Peter Whittingham and Chris Burke. With the first half quickly coming to a close, Scunthorpe remained the dominant side as they continued to defy their lowly league position. Indeed Michael O'Connor was the latest to test keeper David Marshall from long range, but the Scot saved well to his left.

It had been a frustrating first period for the Bluebirds, disappointment summed up by Peter Whittingham as he blazed the ball over the bar in first half stoppage time. With the three minutes up, a lacklustre Bluebirds side went into the break deserving nothing more than the one goal deficit they had.

HALF TIME: SCUNTHORPE UNITED 1-0 CARDIFF CITY

As the second half got under way, Scunthorpe picked up where they left off in the first half as they instantly put the Bluebirds defence under pressure as they pushed forward looking to double their lead. Goal scorer O'Connor once again tested City keeper Marshall with an audacious free-kick at the tightest of angles, Marshall reacting quickly enough to ensure the ball went clear of danger.

But with seven minutes gone into the second half, the first signs of a Bluebirds fight back came as Bothroyd and Burke combined well on the right flank. Burke charged down the touchline to whip in a curling cross towards the near post towards Chopra, Scunthorpe Captain Cliff Byrne just recovering in time to beat the striker to the ball and clear it for a corner.

But it was the first signs of promise for the Bluebirds, who were in desperate need of an equaliser and looked to have edged the early stages of the second period. With just over an hour gone in the game the Bluebirds had penned their opponents into their own half and were starting to create the chances needed to get themselves back on level terms. Whittingham provided a chance for the outstretched Bothroyd inside the six yard area, but the striker failed to convert the chance under pressure from Byrne and 'keeper Lillis.

Cardiff City Substitution: Chris Burke off - Ross McCormack on (63 mins)

Ross McCormack instantly made a contribution from his left flank position as he whipped a cross in which deflected to the far post; Anthony Gerrard was there with the goal at his mercy and the chance to get his side level, but somehow blazed his header into 479 travelling Bluebirds fans behind the goal, instead of the back of the net.

Chances were now coming thick and fast for the Bluebirds as Chopra was the next to be provided with the chance of an equaliser. Bearing down on goal, Chopra looked certain to add to his tally of thirteen goals for the season, but instead put his effort wide under pressure from the on rushing Lillis in the Iron's goal.

But with time now starting to run out for Cardiff you wondered if they would come to regret missing some of those chances. With just over fifteen minutes left of the game, the Bluebirds' early pressure had lifted as Scunthorpe started to regain control.

Scunthorpe United Substitution: Martyn Woolford off - Grant McCann on (77 mins)

But with just under ten minutes left to go of the game the Bluebirds finally got the equaliser their improved second half performance deserved - but it came in bizarre fashion. As Cardiff pushed forward looking for an equaliser the loose ball fell to Peter Whittingham who hit a strong shot towards goal, deflecting of an unaware Iron defender in the box. The deflection caught Scunthorpe keeper Lillis off guard as the ball looped over his head and into the back of the net to draw the Bluebirds level.

GOAL: Scunthorpe United 1-1 Cardiff City (Peter Whittingham 81 mins)

Cardiff City Substitution: Adam Matthews off - Paul Quinn on (85 mins)

Scunthorpe United Substitution: Sam Togwell off- Matt Sparrow on

Now level, the Bluebirds pushed forward looking for a dramatic winner and substitute Ross McCormack almost brought it as he hit a superb curling effort towards goal only thwarted by a superb outstretched save by Lillis.

Scunthorpe United substitution: Gary Hooper off - Jonathan Forte on (90 + 1 mins)

The home side threatened another last minute goal to break Bluebirds hearts as Jonathan Forte went down after contact with Anthony Gerrard in the penalty area. But Referee Scott Mathieson waved away the appeals and blew for full time, ensuring the Bluebirds would secure a hard earned point.

FULL TIME: SCUNTHORPE UNITED 1-1 CARDIFF CITY

Scunthorpe United: Lillis, Wright, Williams, Togwell (Sparrow 85), Byrne, Hayes, Hooper (Forte 90+1), Thompson, Mirfin, Woolford (McCann 77), O'Connor. Subs not used: Slocombe, Milne, May, Picton

Cardiff City: Marshall, McNaughton, Hudson, Whittingham, Chopra, Bothroyd, Burke (63 McCormack), Gerrard, Ledley, Matthews (Quinn 85), Wildig. Subs not used: Enckelman, Gyepes, Capaldi, Quinn, Taiwo, Feeney, McCormack.

Attendance: 5032 (Glanford Park, Scunthorpe)

Referee: Scott Mathieson