With the Carling Cup always poised to spring a few surprises, it was the Bluebirds who started the match on the front foot, eager to gain an early advantage to discourage their lower league visitors. The first chance of the match fell to striker Jay Bothroyd after three minutes, whose cheeky chip after a fine Peter Whittingham pass was pushed away by a less than composed Adam Legzdins in the Burton Albion goal.

The home side's quality was starting to tell, and after fourteen minutes Cardiff would have taken the lead but for a brave block by Nathan Stanton; the Brewers' defender diverted a powerful effort from Peter Whittingham wide, with the shot seemingly goal-bound. The Bluebirds, however, would not be denied for long as the opener would come a minute later through Jay Bothroyd, who added to his goal in the season opener against Sheffield United on Sunday. It was Peter Whittingham who found himself in space on the left in the final third before picking out Jay Bothroyd in the area who sidefooted the ball home from close range.

GOAL - Cardiff City 1-0 Burton Albion - Jay Bothroyd (Cardiff) - 15 mins

It was what the Bluebirds had deserved and the score was nearly doubled a minute later with Chris Burke forcing a save off Legzdins with a strike from the edge of the penalty area. Although the next bit of goalmouth action did indeed result in a goal, it was the away fans who were celebrating with Shaun Harrad capitalising on a defensive mix up between Gavin Rae and Anthony Gerrard to calmly dink the ball past Tom Heaton in the Cardiff goal.

GOAL - Cardiff City 1-1 Burton Albion - Shaun Harrad - 18 mins

The goal seemed to affect the Bluebirds, with sloppy mistakes creeping into their play. Heaton needed to be alert to prevent the home side from falling behind, as he blocked an effort from wide right in the penalty area via the goalscorer Harrad. However, as the game approached half time, it was Cardiff and more precisely Jay Bothroyd who came closest to finding an advantage. The striker unleashed a powerful drive from just outside the area that flew mere inches over the crossbar much to Legzdins' relief.

Substitution - (Burton Albion) OFF Aaron Webster - ON Jimmy Phillips - 33 mins

HALF TIME - Cardiff City 1-1 Burton Albion

Substitution - (Cardiff City) OFF Jay Bothroyd - ON Ross McCormack - 45 mins

There were immediate changes for the Bluebirds for the second half as goalscorer Jay Bothroyd made way for Ross McCormack as Dave Jones shuffled his attacking options. However, soon after an enforced change followed, as Adam Matthews limped off following a challenge to be replaced by Paul Quinn.

Substitution - (Cardiff City) OFF Adam Matthews - ON Paul Quinn - 53 mins

Although both sides were clearly looking to find a winner, there was definitely a lack of clear cut chances. The first real worry to either goalkeeper came on the hour-mark, when McCormack's blistering long range drive struck the side netting.

The game was becoming a scrappy affair and with the crowd needing a lift, it was time for Dave Jones to play his ace in the pack with Jason Koumas coming off the bench to the biggest cheer of the night from the Bluebirds faithful. This excitement seemed to translate to matters on the field, as Peter Whittingham came close to a second goal for the Bluebirds with a speculative effort from distance.

Substitution - (Cardiff City) OFF Gavin  Rae - ON Jason Koumas - 69 minutes

Although Koumas was showing the Premier League class that had made him such a hero in his first spell as 'City player, Burton gave the Bluebirds a reminder with twenty minutes to go that they were still very much in a tight contest. A dangerous Lewis Young cross was clumsily diverted behind by Quinn and from the resulting corner Harrad nearly doubled his tally for the night with a near post toe poke that was well held by Heaton.

Substitution - (Burton Albion) OFF Lewis Young - ON Garyn Preen - 73 mins

The Bluebirds had the ball in the Burton net on seventy-five minutes, only to have the effort ruled out thanks to a linesman's flag. The situation had come about after a cross from winger Chris Burke found Ross McCormack at the far post via a Michael Chopra flick on. McCormack dutifully nodded home from a yard out, only for the linesman's flag to cut short any Bluebirds celebrations.

Substitution - (Burton Albion) OFF Shaun Harrad - ON James Ellison - 77 mins

For the last fifteen minutes of the ninety, chances were at a premium for both sides. That was until the final minute of the three allotted for added time, when Burton striker Greg Pearson was presented with a golden chance to snatch a place in the second round for the visitors. After a cross from the wide left hand side found Pearson a couple of yards out from goal it seemed it was only a matter of waiting for the net to ripple with the winner. However, the striker scooped the ball over in impossible fashion to keep the scores level and send the game into added time.

FULL TIME - Cardiff City 1-1 Burton Albion

EXTRA TIME

In the necessary evil that is extra time, it was the Bluebirds who started the opening fifteen minutes stronger with loan starlet Danny Drinkwater coming close with a curling shot from the edge of the area that dropped just wide of Brewers keeper Legzdins' left hand post.

Towards the latter stages of the first period, both sides were restricted to long range efforts that ended up being of no trouble to the respective goalkeepers. Michael Chopra hit an effort over, whilst both Jimmy Phillips and Adam Bolder fired wide.

HALF TIME (Extra Time) Cardiff City 1-1 Burton Albion

Although the first fifteen minutes of injury time were largely uneventful, the second period started with a bang as the Bluebirds were finally able to get their noses in front. It came after persistent work from Jason Koumas on the edge of the box resulted in a lay off to Ross McCormack who fired home from the right hand side of the penalty area.

GOAL - Cardiff City 2-1 Burton Albion - Ross McCormack - 106 mins

A certain phrase concerning London buses seemed apt moments later, as Cardiff doubled their lead with ten minutes remaining. It was McCormack again who struck, with the Scottish international firing the ball into the bottom left hand corner from distance to give Cardiff one foot in the second round.

GOAL - Cardiff City 3-1 Burton Albion - Ross McCormack - 109 mins

With Burton perhaps accepting defeat, Cardiff began probing further. They got their fourth of the game with two minutes to go, when Koumas found captain Chopra who finished clinically giving the Bluebirds a three goal buffer.

GOAL - Cardiff City 4-1 Burton Albion - Michael Chopra - 119 mins

There was no further action as the full time whistle blew and signalled Cardiff's passage into the Carling Cup second round. Moments later they were drawn against League One side Peterborough United, in a clash that will take place at London Road during the week commencing 23 August.

FULL TIME (Extra Time) - Cardiff City 4-1 Burton Albion

CARDIFF CITY: Heaton, Rae (Koumas), Gyepes, Whittingham, Chopra (C), Bothroyd (McCormack), Burke, Gerrard, Drinkwater, John, Matthews (Quinn). Subs not used: Hudson, Taiwo, Wildig, Jarvis

BURTON ALBION: Legzdins, Boertien, Webster (Phillips), Stanton, James, McGrath (C), Harrad (Ellison), Penn, Pearson, Young (Preen), Bolder. Subs not used: Poole, Walker, Dyer, Grocott

Referee - M P Russell

Watch the best of the Burton highlights on Cardiff City Player later, along with post-match reaction from Dave Jones & Martin John.