Jay Bothroyd tripled his goal tally for the season to rescue a point for Cardiff away to 10-man Watford.
The Hornets struck after two minutes when John-Joe O'Toole headed in, then Will Hoskins fired home from 20 yards.
But Watford's Tamas Priskin was sent-off for lashing out at Darren Purse, before Ross McCormack missed a Cardiff penalty after a Tommy Smith foul.
But Bothroyd rose to the challenge, his first goal taking a wicked deflection before he then rattled in a fine shot.
Watford manager Aidy Boothroyd:
"No matter what provocation you get you can't raise your hands to an opponent and he [Priskin] has done that.
"Obviously it's a major turning point for us and we're disappointed not to get the three points.
"But I thought Cardiff were well worth the draw and we had to defend for our lives in the end."
Cardiff manager Dave Jones:
"No doubt about it they were on top, 2-0 up without them really having to work at it.
"The sending-off changed the game... and full credit to Watford, they defended for their lives.
"But we got our width and we caused them all sorts of problems and it was one-way traffic."
Watford: Lee, Sadler, Bromby, Ward, Mariappa, Williamson (Eustace 46), Harley, Smith (McAnuff 89), O'Toole, Priskin, Hoskins (Rasiak 67).
Subs Not Used: Tyler, Doyley.
Sent Off: Priskin (29).
Goals: O'Toole 2, Hoskins 24.
Cardiff: Heaton, McNaughton (Comminges 72), Roger Johnson, Purse, Kennedy, Parry, McPhail, Rae, Whittingham (Eddie Johnson 65), McCormack, Bothroyd.
Subs Not Used: Enckelman, Gyepes, Blake.
Booked: Rae.
Goals: Bothroyd 72, 75.
Att: 13,461
Ref: Richard Beeby (Northamptonshire).
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