Town twice came back from behind to take a well deserved point at high flying Cardiff, with Jon Macken and a penalty from Gary Roberts giving Blues the draw.

Darren Purse put the home side in front on two minutes when Town were caught out again at a corner.

Macken levelled the scores on 48 minutes but Cardiff restored their advantage through a Purse penalty after referee Andy Hall had stunned Town by pointing to the spot for an apparent foul by Jason De Vos midway through the second-half.

Blues levelled within five minutes with a far more clear cut penalty, Roberts winning the spot-kick and then putting it away himself to give Jim Magilton's side a point.

Danny Haynes was preferred to Billy Clarke in attack, partnering Macken who came in for the suspended Alan Lee. Dan Harding returned to the left-back berth after serving a one match ban, Matt Richards dropping to the bench.

Town got off to the worst possible start, Purse losing his marker from a short corner and diverting the ball in from six yards on just two minutes to end Cardiff's four match goal drought.

Michael Chopra then looked to capitalise on a stray Harding pass but De Vos came to Town's rescue, while at the other end Haynes got to a long ball in front of Neil Alexander but couldn't beat the 'keeper.

Macken linked up well with Haynes and Gavin Williams on the quarter hour to set up Sylvain Legwinski but his shot was half blocked and drifted through harmlessly to Alexander.

Town began to get a foothold in the game and enjoyed plenty of possession and Haynes was unfortunate to head a Roberts free-kick the wrong side of the post.

Chopra carried the main threat for Cardiff and only excellent work by De Vos prevented the former Newcastle striker releasing Kevin Campbell in on goal on 25 minutes.

A minute later Williams miskicked in front of goal after good work by Haynes then Harding drilled a shot that Alexander did well to hold.

Chopra turned and fired over on the half hour while Macken also went close with a half volley, then an excellent Purse tackle blocked Roberts after a quick Town break.

The half finished with Town on the attack, Owen Garvan firing inches wide after Haynes had set him up.

Jim Magilton's side got the goal their play deserved within three minutes of the restart, Macken making no mistake from six yards, blasting the ball past Alexander and into the net for his second goal in Town colours.

Blues continued to create openings, Roberts' cross just evading Haynes at the far post then Harding testing Alexander again.

Cardiff boss Dave Jones made a double substitution with Kevin Cooper and Steve Thompson replacing Alan Wright and Campbell just before the hour mark.

Thompson was immediately at the centre of controversy when he was adjudged to have been fouled by his former Dundee United team-mate De Vos. The Town players were incensed when referee Hall pointed to the spot after a consultation with his assistant and Purse sent Lewis Price the wrong way with his penalty.

The referee squared it up in spot-kicks five minutes later and rightly so. Roberts went down under a challenge inside the box from Chris Gunter. The winger picking himself up to score comfortably from the penalty.

With 15 minutes left Luigi Glombard replaced Malvin Kamara with Billy Clarke coming on for Haynes to partner Macken, who impressed throughout the 90 minutes.

Glombard tested Price from the edge of the box with a low shot as the game entered the last 10 minutes, Williams picking up the first yellow card of the game for a mistimed challenge on McNaughton with Chopra sending the resultant free-kick just over.

Town had a couple of anxious moments in the last few minutes with Price saving well from Glombard but Matt Richards, on for Roberts, could have won the game with the last kick but failed to get a shot in after Macken had set him up.