Cardiff 1-1 Brighton

Paul Brayson scored Cardiff's second-half equaliser

Paul Brayson rescued a deserved point for the Bluebirds as they were held to a 1-1 draw by league leaders Brighton.

Andy Legg sent over a 79th-minute cross which Peter Thorne headed against the post and Brayson slammed the ball into the empty net.

Brighton had gone ahead in the 36th minute when Bobby Zamora fired home after Neil Alexander had pawed out a backpass from Rhys Weston.

It was a much improved display by the Bluebirds despite seeming to lack a cutting edge.

Brighton keeper Michel Kuipers was by far the busiest but until the introduction of Leon Jeanne and Legg there had been far too few crosses for front men Thorne and Brayson.

Danny Gabbidon held Zamora in check for most of the game but his silky skills showed why Cardiff had been prepared to pay £2million for him earlier in the season.

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Cardiff: Alexander, Weston, Simpkins, Prior, Gabbidon, Low, Kavanagh, Boland, Hamilton, Brayson, Thorne. Subs: Legg, Fortune-West, Bowen, Hughes, Jeanne.

Brighton: Kuipers, Watson, Mayo, Cullip, Morgan, Rogers, Oatway, Carpenter, Hart, Jones, Zamora. Subs: Pitcher, Brooker, Steele, Wicks, Pethick.

Referee: M Warren (Walsall).