Paul Rogers led out Albion at Ninian Park today.

The captain kept his place in a line-up unchanged after Tuesday's spirited 1-1 draw at Millwall in the Worthington Cup.

Manager Micky Adams resisted the temptation to start with Paul Brooker.

The former Fulham winger, dropped to the bench at Millwall, made a positive impact when he replaced Rogers in the second half at the New Den.

Brooker set up the equaliser for Nathan Jones, one of three former Cardiff players in the Seagulls' side.

Jones was a trainee at Ninian Park, while central midfielders Richard Carpenter and Charlie Oatway both played for the Welshmen.

Mark Walton Albion's No. 1 last season, maintained his ever-present record in the Cardiff goal following his first clean sheet in Tuesday's 0-0 draw at home to Crystal Palace in the Worthington Cup.

Ex Seagulls striker Kurt Nogan was among a trio of players relegated to the bench by Cardiff boss Bobby The fit-again Paul Brayson replaced Nogan upfront. Scott Young, the Welshmen's captain and centre half, and midfielder Josh Low also returned from injuries at the expense of recent signings Gethin Jones and Kevin Evans.

Adams stuck with the 4-5-1 formation which worked so well at Millwall, with Hart on the right and Zamora alone through the middle.

Albion were the first to threaten. Zamora got his head to Cartwright's long range free-kick, but the supporting Rogers could not find any power to trouble Walton.

Cardiff broke immediately, Walton's quick clearance rebounding off Mayo into the path of Low.

He found Brayson, whose curler from 20 yards flew a couple of yards wide of Cartwright's right hand post.

Albion needed to be aware of Legg's prodigious throw-ins. Jones stood in front of the former Notts County man when he launched one deep into the area, which Wicks headed away.

Cullip escaped into space inside the Cardiff box to latch on to Watson's free-kick from the right flank.

He nodded the ball across for Wicks to loop a header narrowly over the bar.

Low, racing on to Nugent's header through the inside right channel, sliced his shot well wide as both teams searched for an early breakthrough.

Jones, fresh from three goals in two games, displayed nifty footwork down the left to evade a couple of Cardiff challenges.

He fed Mayo for a cross which McCulloch, making his English League debut after a £100,000 move from Dundee United, headed clear under pressure from Hart.

Moments later a cross from Jones after neat approach work from Zamora was headed wide by a combination of Rogers and Hart.

Cullip nodded away a dangerous centre from on-loan West Brom rightback Gabbidan, but Albion were enjoying plenty of possession at this stage and were generally having the better of things.

The Seagulls were gifted a chance to take the lead in the 15th minute when Young, under pressure from Rogers near the touchline, left a back pass woefully short.

It put Hart clean through, but Walton plunged at the feet of his former team-mate to rescue the situation.

Walton's discomfort with high balls into the box was illustrated three minutes later when he failed to deal with Watson's inswinging corner.

It was going straight in only for Hill, stationed on the far post, to head off the line.

Cardiff came back through Low, who found Legg with room on the left. His low shot wrong-footed Cartwright as it deflected off Watson and over the bar.

Legg's resulting corner was flicked on for Nugent to head straight at Albion's keeper on the penultimate appearance of his month's loan from Wrexham.

The confidence gained from last Saturday's trouncing of Torquay and the performance at Millwall was in evidence in much of Albion's play.

Jones, suddenly popping up through the middle, flicked on Watson's pass for Zamora to fire wide with his left foot from 20 yards.

There was enough encouragement on the pitch to keep the Seagulls supporters on the uncovered terrace content, despite steady drizzle.

Low released Legg down the left again for Cardiff, but the angle was unkind and he blazed wide of the target.

Wicks was penalised for a push on Nugent shortly after. McCulloch took a long run-up before slamming the ensuing free-kick, from a central position 25 yards out, over the bar with ferocious power.

West Brom rightback Gabbidan, but Albion were enjoying plenty of possession at this stage.

The Seagulls were gifted a chance to take the lead in the 15th minute when Young, under pressure from Rogers near the touchline, left a back pass woefully short.

It put Hart clean through, but Walton plunged at the feet of his former team-mate to rescue the situation.

Walton's discomfort with high balls into the box was illustrated three minutes later when he failed to deal with Watson's inswinging corner.

It was going straight in only for Hill, stationed on the far post, to head off the line.

Cardiff came back through Low, who found Legg with room on the left. His low shot wrong-footed Cartwright as it deflected off Watson and over the bar.

Legg's resulting corner was flicked on for Nugent to head straight at Albion's keeper on the penultimate appearance of his month's loan from Wrexham.

Jones, suddenly popped up through the middle, flicked on Watson's pass for Zamora to fire wide with his left foot from 20 yards.

There was enough encouragement on the pitch to keep the Seagulls supporters on the uncovered terrace content, despite steady drizzle.

Low released Legg down the left again for Cardiff, but the angle was unkind and he blazed wide of the target.

Wicks was penalised for a push on Nugent shortly after. McCulloch took a long run-up before slamming the ensuing free-kick over the bar with ferocious power.

Nugent collected the first caution of the contest in the 35th minute for a clumsy aerial challenge on Cullip.

The Seagulls broke immediately through Zamora. The youngster rode a couple of tackles in a surging run before finding Hart.

He cut inside Bonner's challenge in the box and threatened to do so again when McCulloch intervened with a rather untidy tackle.

Hart went down, but Albion's strong appeals for a penalty were turned down by referee Stretton.

The official also angered the home side approaching the interval. Stretton awarded a goal-kick when they expected a corner and Greene went down off the ball in Albion's area as the players retreated.

An enterprising run by McCulloch from his own half into Albion territory ended with a turf-skimming drive straight at Cartwright.

It was the last meaningful action of a competitive opening 45 minutes. Low shot widely over from long range for the Welshmen early into the restart.

Referee Stretton then came over towards the Albion dugout to have words with assistant manager Alan Cork.

Adams again took off Rogers and brought on Brooker ten minutes into the second half.

Albion came agonisingly close to the opening goal through Jones.

Brooker had only been on the field for two minutes when he crossed low for the summer signing from Southend to smash a right foot shot on the turn against the underside of the crossbar from 14 yards.

Hill collected Cardiff's second caution on 58 minutes for kicking the ball away after he had been penalised.

Albion finally forced the breakthrough they deserved on 59 minutes.

Oatway played a corner short to Watson and his cross found Wicks totally unmarked at the near post to glance in a header from close range.

Adams attempted to combat Cardiff's tactical change by introducing midfielder Melton on 68 minutes in place of Hart.

Zamora spurned a golden opportunity to double Albion's lead with 20 minutes left. Zamora had time to pick his spot but he allowed Walton to block before firing the rebound over.

Zamora's miss proved costly as Cardiff equalised with 16 minutes left.

Cartwright failed to deal properly with a corner and Hill clipped the ball over the retreating keeper from 20 yards.