by Mark Denham, from Cardiff City Stadium

Snapshot

The Bluebirds secured themselves a fourth round tie with Leicester City after beating Bristol City by a goal to nil at Cardiff City Stadium in Tuesday's F.A. Cup third round replay.

The game struggled to get going in the opening half hour, neither side seeing much of the ball in front of goal with defences firmly on top. Michael Chopra's introduction after half and hour injected some more urgency in to the Bluebirds attack, though the half time whistle came without too many first-half incidents to note.

Neither side seemed to take the game by the scruff of the neck and as the second half continued, extra-time looked more and more likely. But then on seventy-five minutes, Robins defender Bradley Orr bundled the ball over his own line after Chopra had struck the post. City had chances to increase their lead, though failed to convert any of their late opportunities.

Chronological Report

A marginally milder Cardiff City Stadium was the setting for Tuesday's third round replay with Bristol City following the 1-1 draw played out at a snowy Ashton Gate the previous week.

The game started at a subdued pace, with neither side taking the attacking initiative in the opening five minutes. Ross McCormack did strike at goal from thirty yards out, hoping to catch out Dean Gerken who was off his line; fortunately for the Bristol 'keeper the ball cleared the bar as well as him.

The first real effort on goal came after fifteen minutes through Peter Whittingham. The Bluebirds' top-scorer cut inside from the right flank, seemingly causing little danger before firing an arrow-like left footed shot directly at Gerken; the 'keeper looked to have it covered, though the pace of the ball misled him, causing it to squirm away and over his cross-bar for a corner.

The Robins' first chance of the game came just before the twenty minute mark through Evander Sno. The midfielder outpaced Adam Matthews on the left hand touchline before cutting inside the area and firing low across David Marshall's goal. The 'keeper was left rooted to the spot, yet no Bristol player was attacking what was a very inviting ball.

McCormack found himself inside the area in space on the half hour mark, curling a shot towards Gerken that may have caused trouble had it not been straight at him. Michael Chopra joined the action moments later, replacing the injured Aaron Wildig who had been having another strong central midfield performance.

Substitution Cardiff City: Michael Chopra on for Aaron Wildig (31 mins).

A half-chance for substitute Chopra came on thirty-eight minutes when the striker out-witted Robins centre back Louis Carey only to shoot, somewhat tamely at Gerken. Bristol immediately looked to re-take the initiative, though the Cardiff back four were looking solid.

Chopra had another chance five minutes before the interval, this time spinning away from Liam Fontaine before shooting just over the bar on the volley. Chopra was seeing plenty of the ball in attack, McCormack now filling the left midfield position with Whittingham tucking inside to replace the departed Wildig.

HALF TIME: CARDIFF CITY 0-0 BRISTOL CITY

The second half started at a similar pace to the first, neither side playing with much urgency. A neat move between Chris Burke and Whittingham almost gave Cardiff an early sniff at goal, though Burke's cross was deflected wide for a corner from which nothing would come.

A moment of excitement at either end came within quick succession of each other just before the hour mark. Firstly, the Robins spurned a superb chance when Nicky Maynard swivelled and crossed low in to the middle of the Cardiff area; the ball looked perfect, but evaded both teams. Almost immediately, Jay Bothroyd found himself one on one with 'keeper Gerken, rounding the Bristol man but finding himself unable to keep the ball in play.

Substitution Bristol City: John Akinde on for Nicky Maynard (60 mins).

Substitution Bristol City: Alvaro Saborio on for Evander Sno (60 mins).

Substitution Cardiff City: Darcy Blake on for Chris Burke (66 mins).

Cardiff's best chance of the game came indirectly from a corner kick won by Joe Ledley. McCormack picked up the second ball after his initial cross had been blocked, before taking it to the by-line and crossing towards Anthony Gerrard who fired a bullet header wide.

The Bluebirds took the lead on seventy-five minutes in somewhat comical fashion. A superb Peter Whittingham ball down the right channel freed Chopra inside the box; Chopra steadied himself and placed his shot past Gerken only to hit the post, though the rebound struck the unlucky Bradley Orr and then hit the back of the net.

GOAL: CARDIFF CITY 1-0 BRISTOL CITY (O.G, Bradley Orr, 75 mins).

The visitors looked shaken by conceding and could have easily conceded another two in two minutes. Firstly McCormack struck the sweetest of shots from thirty-yards out that struck the cross-bar, then Chopra found himself one on one again with Gerken only to strike at the advancing keeper's feet.

Substitution Cardiff City: Mark Kennedy on for Adam Matthews (78 mins).

Substitution Bristol City: Marvin Elliott on for Jamie McAllister (84 mins).

Bristol City pushed hard in the closing five minutes, though Marshall commanded his area impressively time and again to eliminate any threat from the aerial ball. Chopra had another superb chance to kill the game in injury time but fired over from two yards out after getting on the end of the perfect ball by Darcy Blake.

FULL TIME: CARDIFF CITY 1-0 BRISTOL CITY