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Sory Kaba header earns Bluebirds first draw under Sabri Lamouchi



Cardiff City earned their first draw under Sabri Lamouchi after Sory Kaba's header saw them come back from a goal down against West Brom.

By Glen Williams



Daryl Dike opened the scoring early in the first half with a well-taken goal. But Cardiff, who were resurgent after the break, took a point away with them thanks to another terrific headed goal from Kaba - his third for the club.

It leaves City four points above the drop zone, with nine games left to play. It's only a point, but against a tough West Brom team, it felt like a big one.

A much-changed Cardiff team saw Ryan Allsop, Mahlon Romeo, Sheyi Ojo and Isaak Davies all come back into the side as Lamouchi opted to ring the changes.

But the ploy to change up the forward line failed. Davies, making only his second start in the league this season, failed to really impact the game, while Kion Etete, as a loan striker, was easy to defend against.

The Baggies looked far more incisive and accurate with their passing and crossing early on and it did not take long for them to break the deadlock. Jed Wallace whipped in a beautiful cross and Daryl Dike got across Perry Ng before caressing the ball past Allsop.

Cardiff almost hit back immediately, though, when Callum O'Dowda's low shot was deflected into Davies' path, but with his outstretched leg, his shot could only trouble the side netting.

Both sides kept each other at arm's length after that, with a Wallace free-kick, which sailed over the bar, the only other notable action from the first half.

Allsop was called into action early in the second half, when O'Dowda intercepted a pass which fell into Wallace's path. The former Millwall man lashed an effort careering towards the top corner of City's goal, but Allsop sprung into action and palmed away well.

Lamouchi was proactive in bringing on Kaba at the break and it made Cardiff's attack have more of a focal point. It was, of course, he who got City back on terms just after the hour mark.

Ryan Wintle did well to fashion some room for himself before crossing into a dangerous area. Kaba leapt and headed powerfully and downwards, making it almost impossible for Josh Griffiths to keep it out.

Cardiff's fans had barely stopped celebrating when West Brom had the ball in the back of the net again. Allsop saved John Swift's shot, but could only parry it to Adam Reach, who tapped home. Fortunately for the hosts, the assistant had his flag up. Lucky escape.

Wallace had a chance to win it late on for the visitors, when he latched on to a defence-splitting pass in behind the centre-backs. He beat Allsop to it and poked it between his legs - but also stuck it wide of the post.

Both sides threatened late on, but as the game drew to its conclusion, a point for both sides felt fair. A relegation six-pointer against Rotherham United on Saturday awaits.



Cardiff City XI: Allsop; Romeo, Ng, McGuinness, O'Dowda; Ojo (Harris 71), Wintle, Sawyers, Philogene; Etete (Rinomhota 82), Davies (Kaba 46).

Subs: Luthra, Sang, Ralls, Colwill.

West Brom XI: Griffiths; O'Shea, Ajayi, Pieters (Gardner-Hickman 84), Townsend; Molumby (Furlong 84), Yokuslu, Wallace, Swift (Rogic 70), Albrighton (Thomas-Asante 70); Dike (Reach 58).

Subs: Button, Livermore.

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Cardiff City edged closer to securing their Championship status for next season as Sory Kaba's equaliser frustrated play-off hopefuls West Bromwich Albion.


Cardiff are the division's lowest scorers, Cardiff will be happier than Albion with this draw.


BBC



Daryl Dike's classy volley had put Albion on course for victory.

But Kaba's second-half header earned Cardiff what may prove a crucial point in their fight against relegation.

The draw leaves Sabri Lamouchi's team 21st in the table, four points clear of the drop zone.

West Brom stay eighth, although they slip to five points adrift of the top six.

Cardiff will be the happier of the two sides given that they came from behind to earn the first draw of Lamouchi's reign, even if Carlos Corberan's Albion were pleased to halt a run of four away league defeats.

Lamouchi has put up pictures of the Championship table at Cardiff's training ground to remind his players of their task this spring - and they will make slightly prettier reading thanks to Kaba's intervention.

Cardiff are the division's lowest scorers, but had the first sight of goal when Jaden Philogene dragged wide from range.

Albion's lead came courtesy of their first meaningful attack, with Cardiff losing a midfield scrap and failing to recover as Marc Albrighton fed Jed Wallace in space down the right.

Wallace had time to pick out the perfect cross, and Dike also went unchallenged as he finished with composure and quality, stroking a volley low into the net.

Cardiff might have responded within five minutes when Callum O'Dowda's drive ricocheted into the path of Isaak Davies, but he could only shoot wide as he stretched at the far post.

West Brom were presented with the chance to double their lead early in the second half when O'Dowda cut out Jayson Molumby's through ball and inadvertently teed up Wallace.

Goalkeeper Ryan Allsop saved Cardiff, pushing Wallace's first-time shot over the bar.

Cardiff's on-loan Aston Villa youngster Jaden Philogene missed an early chance to open the scoring

The home side were struggling to make an impression at the other end, but their first effort on target of the night brought the equaliser.

Ryan Wintle was the creator, battling for possession and then delivering a perfect cross for substitute Kaba to head home, Albion keeper Josh Griffiths getting a firm hand to the ball but watching as it rolled inside his left-hand post.

Adam Reach thought he had delivered an instant response as he steered in the rebound after John Swift's long-range shot was parried, but this time the offside flag rescued Cardiff.

As the contest opened up a little late on, Philogene forced Griffiths to save at his near post before Wallace's poked effort beat Allsop but rolled agonisingly wide.

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