Cardiff's winless start to the season continued as Stoke
held on for a 1-1 draw and their first away point since January in the Welsh
capital.
Stoke had hope of an away-day success after a run of nine straight Sky Bet Championship defeats when Ben Johnson scored midway through the first half.
But the Potters came under fierce pressure in the second
half and Joel Colwill's headed home for Cardiff hosts who hit a post three
times.
The draw - Cardiff's fourth in six games - was enough to
take the Bluebirds out of the relegation zone, while Stoke slip to 15th.
Krystian Bielik was named in the Cardiff starting line-up
after being involved in a physical altercation with a fan at Portsmouth on
Saturday.
The incident is currently the subject of an investigation by
Hampshire Police.
Cardiff boss Brian Barry-Murphy had urged supporters and
players to stay calm after a tricky start and two successive defeats that had
dropped them into the relegation zone.
Stoke had been boosted by back-to-back home wins but their
form on the road was dire, with no wins in 11 games.
Ollie Tanner had two chances in the space of 60 seconds for the Bluebirds.
A slick interchange of passes between Tanner, Jack Moylan
and Yousef Salech allowed the winger space and his shot from 20 yards struck
the base of a post.
Stoke escaped again immediately as goalkeeper Viktor
Johansson, under pressure from Salech, sent his clearing kick straight to
Tanner, who failed to find an empty net from a tight angle.
Robert Bozenik skewed Stoke's first opening wide, but the
Potters were ahead after Tanner failed to convert at the far post.
Bozenik played the ball over the top of the Cardiff defence
and Johnson profited from some weak defending to open his account on a
season-long loan from Ipswich.
George Hirst forced Nathan Trott to shovel his effort from
20 yards, and the Cardiff goalkeeper had to react again to hold Justin
Devenny's deflected shot.
Good chances came thick and fast at the start of the second
half after Moylan fired straight at Johansson.
Hirst was clean through but he lacked conviction approaching
Trott and the goalkeeper saved with his legs.
Tanner then burst away after dispossessing Luke Graham, but
Ben Wilmot came to Stoke's rescue with a brilliant block that earned him
high-fives all round.
Colwill met Chris Willock's cross after 63 minutes to broke
Stoke's resistance, looping a header on to a post and past Johansson.
The same combination almost paid dividends for Cardiff
moments later when another Colwill header thumped off a post.
Salech had two clear-cut chances late on and Moylan struck
the goal frame in stoppage time as Cardiff were frustrated.
Cardiff City: Trott, Bagan, Osho, Bielik, Ng,
Robertson, J.Colwill, Moylan, Willock (Ashford 82’), Tanner, Salech. Subs
Not Used: Tyrer, Turnbull, Scanlon, Tankiewicz, Anyadike, Moreno,
Kpakio, Robinson.
Stoke City: Johansson, Wilmot, Talovierov,
Graham, Johnson, Soumare, Galbraith, Bombino (Bocat 59’), Devenny (Cisse 69’),
Bozenik (McGlynn 69’) , Hirst (Jun-ho 59’). Subs Not Used: Griffiths,
Anderson,Pearson, Rigo, Manhoef.
