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Result: Late Grant Hanley goal denies Cardiff City first win

Grant Hanley nets on 89 minutes to earn a 1-1 draw for Blackburn Rovers against Cardiff City.

Grant Hanley struck an 89th-minute equaliser as Blackburn Rovers denied Cardiff City their first win of the Championship season in a 1-1 draw at Ewood Park this evening.

Only five minutes elapsed before the visitors moved ahead, as Joe Mason latched on to Lee Peltier's through-ball before slotting past David Raya.

Nevertheless, Blackburn initially responded well to the setback and came close to equalising on the nine-minute mark.

Goalkeeper David Marshall was handed a first start of the season after serving out a three-match ban, but there was no sign of rust as he kept out Nathan Delfouneso with a smart save.

Their momentum petered out and City almost doubled their lead on the half-hour mark when Anthony Pilkington's drive deflected narrowly wide of Raya's post.

Minutes later, Kagisho Dikgacoi drove inches wide from range after Raya spilled Joe Ralls's effort following a corner as the Bluebirds looked in full control.

It was Rovers who finished the half on top, as Shane Duffy spurned a good chance to grab a timely equaliser but he smashed over the bar from close range as the visitors survived.

Gary Bowyer's side retained that momentum throughout the break as the hosts laid siege to Cardiff's goal in the first 15 minutes of the second period.

First, Delfouneso's deflected half volley came back off the crossbar, before Hanley inexplicably missed the target with a header from two yards out.

However, the Rovers captain had the last laugh as he found himself unmarked at the near post, before side-footing home following a scramble to salvage a point for his side.

Having come into the clash in 14th, the Welsh side move one place up the table, while Blackburn, who were 17th, now sit 16th.

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Joe Mason of Cardiff City during the pre season friendly match between Cardiff City and Watford at Cardiff City Stadium on July 28, 2015
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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom422214673403380
2Leeds UnitedLeeds41239963342978
3Brentford422291175344175
4Fulham4221101156441273
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest4218141054421268
6Cardiff CityCardiff421616106054664
7Swansea CitySwansea421615115549663
8Preston North EndPreston421710155551461
9Derby CountyDerby421613135655161
10Blackburn RoversBlackburn421611155955459
11Millwall421417114846259
12Bristol City421610165561-658
13Reading421411175348553
14Queens Park RangersQPR42158196067-753
15Wigan AthleticWigan421411174653-753
16Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds421410185159-852
17Birmingham CityBirmingham421213175267-1549
18Middlesbrough421114174253-1147
19Huddersfield TownHuddersfield421211194963-1447
20Stoke CityStoke41137215461-746
21Charlton AthleticCharlton421210204757-1046
22Hull City42129215774-1745
23Barnsley421012204667-2142
24Luton TownLuton42118234779-3241

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