Cardiff have revealed they will appeal against Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's red card after holding out for a point against a spirited Colchester United side at Layer Road.
Paul Parry gave the Bluebirds an eagerly lead, but Hasselbaink was sent off for violent conduct and, soon after, Johnnie Jackson levelled with a rasping effort to earn the home side a 1-1 draw.
Hasselbaink was dismissed after catching Colchester keeper Dean Gerken with a high boot midway through the second half and now faces a three-match ban.
But Cardiff manager Dave Jones was disappointed to see his striker red-carded.
Jones said: "The decision to send Jimmy off was a harsh one because he went for the ball.
"I hope that the FA will look at it and go from there because to have him suspended would be a killer for us.
"Jimmy is a forward and he is entitled to go for the ball - he did not go in to hurt the goalkeeper.
"It's a tough division and Colchester are fighting for their lives - you could see that from the word go.
"They were effective and we had to deal with that."
Us boss Geraint Williams felt his side deserved more than a point.
He said: "They were two fantastic strikes and two great goals. We got a point, but we should have got a bit more out of the game.
"The effort is always there, but we played some good football and I felt that we created good openings.
"I was delighted with the performance and, from the first minute until the last, I thought we were magnificent."
Cardiff were ahead in the 11th minute through Parry's ninth goal of the season.
The Wales international cutely chested down Peter Whittingham's quick pass before curling superbly into the top corner from nearly 25 yards.
But bottom club Colchester, now seemingly resigned to relegation, showed commendable spirit.
They had a legitimate penalty appeal turned down when Kevin Lisbie appeared to be tugged in the area and also hit the post.
Cardiff goalkeeper Peter Enckelman saved Karl Duguid's free-kick before Cardiff were down to 10 men in the 62nd minute.
Adam Virgo allowed the ball to run past him and, when Hasselbaink's boot connected with Gerken referee Kevin Wright instantly brandished the red card.
Barely 10 minutes later Colchester were level.
Medy Elito's pass was met first time by Jackson, who dispatched a sweet, right-foot effort into the top corner in the 71st minute.
Colchester piled on the pressure after that but Cardiff held out.