Lennie Lawrence surprised nobody with his team selection, with Graham Kavanagh passing a late fitness test taking the captains arm-band. With Gary Croft still suspended, Rhys Weston kept his place at right-back with Daniel Gabbidon and Tony Vidmar forming a partnership at the heart of the defence. Despite only one goal in City's last two league outing prior to today, Robert Earnshaw and Peter Thorne were selected up-front for the visiting Bluebirds, with Alan Lee and Andy Campbell warming the bench.

Any doubts over Graham Kavanagh's fitness for the game were quickly squandered when the Irish international showed sheer determination clattering into Derby's 16-year-old midfielder Tom Huddlestone with only seconds on the clock. The captain recieved a booking for his efforts!

The Bluebirds started the brighter team for the first time in a while, with Paul Parry looking very dangerous in the opening exchanges. Considering the left-winger was playing non-league football just a matter of weeks ago, he showed no fear playing in the impressive Pride Park ground, supplying Earnshaw with a number of chances early-on as County struggled to settle.

Derby soon got a grip of the game though, and as the half progressed the hosts grew stronger. Experienced midfielder Ian Taylor missed the best chance of the entire opening period as the half came to an end following some good work from Marco Reich. The German international bobbed and weaved through the City defence, which looked shaky throughout, and sent an inch-perfect cross towards Taylor who couldn't keep the header down, with the ball sailing over Margetson's bar.

County finished the half the stronger and the City back four looked vulnerable. Osman and Candido Costa both had half-chances, but the Rams couldn't take advantage of their late dominance and the two sides went in at the break level-pegging.

The Bluebirds looked as if they were still enjoying their half-time orange as the second period kicked-off, with Ian Taylor being given far to much freedom and space in the box as Costa sent the ball into the Bluebirds area. The former Aston Villa star rose unchallenged to meet the cross and head towards the top right-hand corner of the goal leaving Margetson with no chance.

The goal worked as a real rocket up the backsides of Cardiff, and Lawrence's side started to play some good football. Peter Thorne had a penalty claim turned down immediately after kick-off, but City had to wait until the hour-mark to find the equaliser. Richard Langley sent a neat cross in towards Peter Thorne, who knocked the ball down beautifully to Earnshaw and the Welsh international simply couldn't miss from only yards out.

The 2,000 travelling Bluebirds fans had barely finished cheering Earnshaw's opener when the Bluebirds took the lead on the 62-minute mark. The Irishman, hoping for a re-call to the national side for their upcoming glamour friendly against world champions Brazil, sent a thumping volley towards goal and despite his diving effort, County 'keeper Lee Grant had no chance.

Zambian-born Robert Earnshaw should have added to Cardiff's advantage when he put Rhys Weston's cross wide, and after that chance lowly Derby piled the pressure onto Cardiff. As the clock ticked down, it was starting to look like the Bluebirds would keep faint play-off chances alive with three points, but slack defending cost City victory when Leon Osman put Richard Jackson's cross home at the far-post to send the 20,000 home fans into ecstasy.

Overall, it seemed a fair result and one both sides would probably have settled for before kick-off. The results sees Cardiff drop to 12th in the table, and West Brom, Sunderland and West Ham United are the three remaining fixtures of February! Derby County remain 21st in the table but now have a two point advantage over Nottingham Forest who sit in the red zone. However Forest, who sacked manager Paul Hart after today's defeat, have a game in hand over their arch-rivals.

Despite the early kick-off, the Cardiff fans were very good today and I understand the game passed without any serious crowd trouble. Perhaps next season, should we meet County, we won't require an early start!

Full Time - Derby County 2-2 Cardiff City

Derby County: Grant, Edwards, Vincent, Taylor, Costa, Johnson, Huddlestone, Mawene, Reich, Osman, Whelan.
Subs: Camp, Jackson, Bolder, McLeod, Tudgay.

Cardiff City: Margetson, Weston, Barker, Gabbidon, Vidmar, Boland, Parry, Kavanagh, Langley, Earnshaw, Thorne.
Subs: Alexander, Whalley, Prior, Campbell, Lee.

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