Crewe 2-2 Cardiff

Cardiff's Rob Earnshaw battles with Stephen Foster of Crewe

Michael Higdon's late strike ensured Crewe avoided defeat in their Championship opener against Cardiff.

The midfielder volleyed home Dean Ashton's cutback in the 85th minute to earn the home side a deserved point.

Ashton had given Crewe an early lead from the penalty spot after Robert Page handled in the area.

However, the visitors hit back through John Robinson's close-range effort and Alan Lee's run and shot from 25 yards before Higdon's late intervention.

Crewe manager Dario Gradi

"Michael Higdon did exactly what we know he can do. He's a goal scorer and finds the net with either foot.

"We deserved something out of that and I always thought we would score even when we went flat after their second goal.

"We have room for improvement as several of the players can do better than that. Nobody was poor but you would be hard pressed to find somebody outstanding."

Cardiff manager Lennie Lawrence

"Their's was a penalty. I was thinking if I get away with conceding a penalty here it will be the biggest let-off of my entire life.

"I realised because of the delay in it being given we wouldn't have a man sent off and fortunately we didn't as it would have been difficult for 10 men chasing round in this heat.

"It was a classic Cardiff game. Up and down, plenty of goal-mouth incident. You think you are going to come out on top and you shoot yourself in the foot in the last minute."

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Crewe: Williams, Briggs, Billy Jones, Walker, Foster, Lunt, Sorvel, Cochrane (Higdon 79), Vaughan, Ashton, Rivers (Steve Jones 69). Subs Not Used: Ince, Tonkin, Bell.

Goals: Ashton 5 pen, Higdon 85.

Cardiff: Margetson, Weston (Croft 87), Gabbidon, Page, Vidmar, Kavanagh, Langley, Robinson (Collins 81), Bullock, Earnshaw (Campbell 74), Lee. Subs Not Used: Parry, Warner.

Booked: Vidmar.

Goals: Robinson 44, Lee 59.

Attendance: 7,339.

Referee: M Thorpe (Suffolk).