The Tigers twice surrendered the lead against Cardiff City on Saturday afternoon in a 2-2 draw at the KC Stadium.

City looked to have won the game until Roger Johnson's deflected effort in added time saw the points shared.

There was just one change to the City side that drew 0-0 with Bristol City in midweek as injury kept Bryan Hughes out. Richard Garcia replaced him and played on the right with Stephen McPhee playing on the left. David Livermore coming in on the bench.

Cardiff were without Robbie Fowler, who missed out through injury, while Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink dropped to the bench to be replaced in attack by Steve MacLean.

The switch around on the wings paid off within three minutes for the Tigers as they took the lead. Fraizer Campbell played the ball out to Garcia and when he delivered a low cross, McPhee fired into the roof of the net.

City were then given a warning when MacLean fired just over before Cardiff bagged an equaliser in the sixth minute. Gavin Rae squared the ball to Steve Thompson and he placed a lovely shot wide of Boaz Myhill and into the corner of the net.

Garcia then won the Tigers a corner following a tricky run into the box. Dean Marney looked to have delivered the perfect ball onto the head of Michael Turner at the near post, but Thompson flicked it clear at the last second.

The same Cardiff player then brought a stunning save out of Myhill with a powerful half-volley from the edge of the area before Joe Ledley's shot struck the far post via the City keeper as the visitors began to get on top.

City responded by going close with a couple of headers. Ian Ashbee headed Marney's free kick over before Campbell headed Damien Delaney's cross straight at Kasper Schmeichel.

The game then entered a scrappy phase and City were struggling to string their passes together.

City were awarded a penalty on 37 minutes when Campbell was hacked down by Darren Purse in the box. Windass stepped up, but saw his spot kick saved by Schmeichel.

Myhill then had to save from Rae before Thompson headed the resulting corner wide.

The Tigers regained the lead in the 43rd minute. Delaney put in a deep cross from the left and when Schmeichel failed to take it, the ball dropped for Garcia who volleyed home from ten yards.

Cardiff went close to another quick response as Rae fired just over from the edge of the area before Ledley sliced a pass from Rae wide in added time.

Half Time: Tigers 2-1 Cardiff

City threatened early in the second half as they won a couple of quick corners which were taken by Delaney, although they couldn't make them count.

McPhee needed treatment when he went down following a challenge with Roger Johnson, but he was given the all clear to continue, before Thompson headed Paul Parry's cross straight at Myhill.

Ricketts was booked in the 59th minute for a foul on Ledley, which presented Cardiff with a free kick on the angle of the City box. Rae delivered it, but Delaney produced a superb defensive header to help clear the danger.

City then had to survive a goalmouth scramble following Parry's corner. Myhill brilliantly saved Thompson's header from close range before Purse turned the ball back into the six-yard box. The ball whizzed around before it was eventually cleared.

Delaney was booked for a handball on the left touchline in the 69th minute.

Purse was the next man to be booked when he halted Campbell's run 25 yards from goal. Windass went for goal from the free kick, but Schmeichel saved at his near post.

City then made their first change as Livermore replaced McPhee. That saw Marney move out onto the left with the substitute operating in the middle alongside Ashbee.

Cardiff missed a golden opportunity to draw level on 73 minutes when the ball dropped for Thompson in the box, but he failed to hit the target from a good position.

City's second change came with 13 minutes remaining as Caleb Folan replaced Windass.

The Tigers' record signing was booked soon after for a foul on Ledley before Hasselbaink was introduced to the action.

City's final change came with a minute remaining as Andy Dawson came on for Campbell.

Folan went close to extending the lead in the 90th minute after beating the offside trap. Schmeichel advanced to the edge of his area, Folan beat him to the ball and lifted it over him, but it rolled wide.

Myhill was called into action in added time after flapping at a cross, saving well from MacLean's subsequent shot.

But City couldn't hold on and Cardiff levelled deep into added time. The ball fell to Johnson on the edge of the box and his deflected shot deceived Myhill before ending up in the back of the net.

Tigers (4-4-2) Boaz Myhill; Sam Ricketts, Michael Turner, Wayne Turner, Damien Delaney; Richard Garcia, Dean Marney, Ian Ashbee [captain], Stephen McPhee (Livermore 73); Fraizer Campbell (Dawson 89), Dean Windass (Folan 77).

Subs: Matt Duke, Andy Dawson, David Livermore, Jay-Jay Okocha, Caleb Folan.

Bookings: Ricketts 59, Delaney 68, Folan 86

Cardiff City (4-4-2) Kasper Schmeichel, Chris Gunter, Darren Purse [captain], Roger Johnson, Tony Capaldi (Whittingham 61); Paul Parry, Gavin Rae (Hasselbaink 87),Stephen McPhail, Joe Ledley; Steve Thompson, Steve MacLean.

Subs: Michael Oakes, Peter Whittingham, Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink, Kevin McNaughton, Aaron Ramsey.

Bookings: Purse 61