Cardiff maintained their unbeaten run after battling back from a goal down to hold Derby at Pride Park.
McCormack goal maintains Cardiff's unbeaten start
Cardiff maintained their unbeaten start to the campaign after battling back from a goal down to hold Derby 1-1 at Pride Park.
Martin Albrechtsen's first goal for Derby put The Rams in front with 30 minutes played. The Danish defender drilled his shot into the roof of the net from 12 yards out.
However, Cardiff kept battling away and secured a share of the spoils from the penalty spot when Ross McCormack netted after Joe Ledley had gone down under a challenge from Miles Addison.
Derby created little and went ahead somewhat against the run of play. Hulse's header from six yards that was easily saved by Heaton in the eighth minute was the hosts' only other chance of note in the first half.
Difficult going
Cardiff found it equally difficult to create opportunities. Peter Whittingham and McCormack missed the target with shots from outside the box midway through the first half.
When the Bluebirds did work Roy Carroll for the first time five minutes before the break, Stephen McPhail's effort from the edge area was straight at the Derby goalkeeper.
Derby started the second half brightly but still failed to trouble Heaton in the visitor's goal. Barazite and then Jordan Stewart flashed shots wide in quick succession before Villa followed suit in the 51st minute.
Cardiff were presented with the chance to equalise midway through the second half when Ledley's surging run into the box was halted by Addison's challenge and referee Mark Haywood awarded a penalty.
McCormack accepted the invitation to restore parity, powering the ball into the bottom corner for his fifth goal of the season - his third from the spot.
Headed wide
Cardiff could have edged ahead two minutes later but Jay Bothroyd headed Ledley's corner wide from inside the six-yard box.
Heaton caught Steve Davies' looping header under pressure from Derby attackers in the 75th minute.
Another Ledley corner was headed wide by Eddie Johnson with five minutes remaining as Cardiff looked the most likely to snatch a winning goal.
But Derby held on and, after a terrible start to the season, have now gone three league matches unbeaten for the first time since April 2007.
