by Mark Denham, from Pride Park

Snapshot

Cardiff City beat Derby County 2-1 at Pride Park on Saturday in a thrilling Championship encounter.

The Bluebirds took an early lead when Michael Chopra finished off a wonderfully worked individual goal on fourteen minutes.

But Derby equalised nine minutes later after Tomasz Cywka stole a march on the Bluebirds defence to fire home from inside the area.

A serious looking injury to Kevin McNaughton saw the end of the first half delayed by ten minutes, but early news is positive in that it suggests that the full-back's injury isn't as serious as first feared.

The Bluebirds dominated the first half and had Derby on the rack for most of it. But it wasnt until twelve minutes from time that Chris Burke followed up a Peter Whittingham effort to round Stephen Bywater and put 'City back in front.

Derby brought Ben Pringle on to try and open the 'City defence in the last ten minutes and had some joy as he consistently put threatening balls into the area. David Marshall twice denied the home side a point in the closing minutes of the game, but 'City held on for a deserved win.

Chronological Report

Neither side took control inside the opening five minutes of the game, but the Bluebirds had the first real chance after six minutes of play. Bothroyd played Burke in down the right before the ball came back left via Olofinjana to Chopra; Chopra crossed deep, but no 'City player could get on the end of his cross.

The game came to life after seven minutes when Chopra clattered into Robbie Savage. Savage had taken the striker down moments earlier and it seemed that neither of the two fiery characters were going to let the other get a psychological advantage.

Peter Whittingham had a glorious chance to open the scoring on ten minutes after making a late run into the area to pick up a Burke cutback. Whittingham made it to the ball and struck with venom, but the shot was always rising and Derby were reprieved.

'City deservedly took the lead on fourteen minutes following a consistent spell of possession. Burke found Chopra on the edge of the area, allowing the striker to cut inside two Derby defenders and stroke home a perfectly crafted individual goal.

GOAL: DERBY COUNTY 0-1 CARDIFF CITY (Chopra, 14)

A serious looking injury to Kevin McNaughton on twenty minutes stopped the game for a five minute spell. Fortunately McNaughton was able to continue, but the break in play found 'City un-organised in defence allowing Cywka to steal in at the near post and tuck home an easy finish.

GOAL: DERBY COUNTY 1-1 CARDIFF CITY (Cywka, 25)

But the goal didn't appear to alter the flow of the game, as the Bluebirds were soon back on the attack. A foul by Gareth Roberts on Bothroyd thirty yards from goal allowed Whittingham a set-piece effort. It looked good, and tested Bywater, but the ball drifted just high of the top right stanchion.

Derby had a half chance from a corner on the half hour mark when Shaun Barker stole clear of his marker, but the effort went straight to Marshall who gathered easily.

The game was becoming an end to end contest and Burke had a good chance to put the Bluebirds back ahead on thirty two minutes. Superb play in his own half from Bothroyd resulted in the striker freeing the winger down the right channel with the outside of his right boot; Burke ran at the Derby defence, took the outside option and struck well, but Bywater was equal to the effort and put the ball out for a corner.

Derby looked most threatening from set-plays and Cywka almost got his second of the game on forty minutes when he found himself free inside the area. The midfielder though was denied by Marshall, but more worryingly for all in attendance was a second knock that McNaughton took inside the area. It brought about a ten minute delay and the introduction of Adam Matthews, as McNaughton was attended to by medical staff and worryingly, stretchered from the field. It would result in a prolonged period of additional time played at the end of the first half.

Substitution Cardiff City: Kevin McNaughton on for Adam Matthews (45 mins).

Chopra found himself free of Barker in first half injury time, only to be denied at the crucial moment by the retreating defender who did well. 'City were pressing in the closing stages of the half with the ball bouncing around in the Derby area, crying out to be struck by someone.

HALF TIME: DERBY COUNTY 1-1 CARDIFF CITY

'City opened the second half brightly and following a touch of fortune inside the area, came close through Burke. Bothroyd knocked the ball down to the Scot who's shot was pushed away by Bywater; Olofinjana struck the rebound well, but just wide of the goal.

Cardiff were enjoying all of the possession in the second half and were really testing the Derby full-backs on either flank. But clear cut opportunities inside the area were scarce, and it did beg the question as to whether a more direct route against a fragile Rams back four would bring about the breakthrough.

Danny Drinkwater would have brought the house down had his goal-bound effort not flown over Bywater's crossbar on the hour mark. The midfielder linked up superbly well with Chopra and Burke to find space inside the area, but perhaps rushed his effort when composure was what was needed.

Substitution Derby County: Connor Doyle on for Robbie Savage (70 mins)

With just under twenty minutes remaining, Derby began to find some life. After being under the cosh for the entire second half, substitute Doyle almost turned in a cross from the right and probably would have done had it not been a yard behind him.

Substitution Derby County: Ben Pringle on for Kris Commons (75 mins)

But the Bluebirds retook the lead with twelve minutes remaining much to the chagrin of the home support. Good play between Chopra and Bothroyd saw the ball come back to Whittingham outside the area; Whittingham struck well at Bywater who parried, and Burke followed up to tuck home the rebound. Derby felt that Burke had impeded Bywater but the referee and his assistant felt otherwise and the goal stood. It was a deserved goal for 'City who had been asking questions throughout the half.

GOAL: DERBY COUNTY 1-2 CARDIFF CITY (Burke, 78 mins)

Substitution Cardiff City: Ross McCormack on for Michael Chopra (82 mins)

Ben Pringle's introduction was bringing about some joy for the home side down the right flank, and Derby almost stole a point on two occasions only to be denied by an inspired David Marshall. The Rams would have felt unlucky not to draw the game when the final whistle was eventually blown, but the Bluebirds more than deserved a point at the end of a game that they dominated.

FULL TIME: DERBY COUNTY 1-2 CARDIFF CITY

Full match reaction plus highlights on Cardiff City Player will follow later on Saturday evening.