Blackburn 3-2 Cardiff

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Blackburn managed to fend off Cardiff in the FA Cup to set up a fourth round home tie against Colchester.

David Thompson rifled a shot in to put Rovers in front only for Jobi McAnuff to level with an angled strike.

Cardiff suffered a blow when a hopeful David Thompson high ball bounced into goal and a Morten Gamst Pedersen side-foot put them further adrift.

A James Collins shot gave Cardiff hope but Alan Lee and Richard Langley missed good chances to level.

Blackburn, being watched by new signing Robbie Savage, had quickly got into their stride from the kick-off and were confident and comfortable before Thompson powered them ahead with his first goal in 17 months.

The midfielder applied a fierce finish to a move which saw Lucas Neill cut inside from the right and find Paul Gallagher who laid a pass into Thompson's run into the Cardiff box.

McAnuff's equaliser only brought Cardiff level for a short period

Cardiff rarely looked capable of breaching the Blackburn defence with their first worthwhile attempt coming after 20 minutes when Graham Kavanagh's long range shot was saved.

But the Championship outfit stunned the Premiership club with a well worked equaliser.

A one-two between Langley and McAnuff pierced the left of the Rovers defence and McAnuff beat keeper Brad Friedel with an angled shot across goal.

The parity in the tie was shortlived, however, as Blackburn regained the lead in bizarre fashion.

Thompson looped a hopeful ball into the Cardiff six-yard box and, although Gallagher failed to get a touch, he did distract keeper Tony Warner who watched helplessly as the ball bounced into his goal.

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The busy Thompson had a left foot shot saved by a scrambling Warner before Cardiff almost broke through the home defence in identical fashion to their opener just before half-time.

The size of Cardiff's task grew when Pedersen gave Rovers a two-goal cushion with his third goal in three games for Rovers after side-footing in a cross to the far post by Neill.

Cardiff refused to give up and were rewarded as they reduced the deficit when Collins shot home from close-range after his header from Kavanagh's free-kick was parried back into his path by Friedel.

A powerful Lee header might have gone in had it not been straight at Friedel and a sliding Langley agonisingly shot high as Cardiff pressed for a leveller.

But Blackburn survived some scary moments to hold on for the win.

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Blackburn: Friedel, Neill, Todd, Mokoena, Matteo, Emerton, Tugay (Johansson 60), Thompson, Pedersen, Dickov, Gallagher (Reid 61). Subs Not Used: Enckelman, Stead, Johnson.

Booked: Dickov, Neill.

Goals: Thompson 9, 32, Pedersen 47.

Cardiff: Warner, Weston (Vidmar 51), Collins, Gabbidon, Barker, Langley, Kavanagh, Inamoto (Ledley 76), McAnuff, Lee, Thorne (Campbell 62). Subs Not Used: Alexander, Bullock.

Booked: Gabbidon.

Goals: McAnuff 24, Collins 54.

Att: 9,140.

Ref: S Dunn (Gloucestershire).