Cardiff City 1-1 Coventry City: 10-man Bluebirds cling on for point after Callum Robinson red card

Cardiff City began 2025 with a whirlwind clash against Coventry City which saw them reduced to 10 men and cling on for a point despite a second-half onslaught from the visitors.

Alex Robertson began the new year in style by putting Cardiff ahead after just six minutes, but the game flipped on its head in the space of two minutes after the break.

Taatsuhiro Sakamoto netted the leveller seconds after the restart before Callum Robinson was given his marching orders a minute later for connecting with Bobby Thomas's face with an elbow.

Based on the first half alone, a draw feels like a wasted opportunity. On the second half alone, it seems like a miracle they came away with anything at all. Another two points goes begging, whichever way you look at it.

As ever in this stadium, hope springs eternal despite what has come before and the home fans were praying their team started 2025 in the same manner they finished 2024, with that impressive win at Watford.

And Robertson answered those calls just over five minutes into the tie. The opener came by virtue of a fantastic break down the left from Callum O'Dowda, who beat his man before sending a ball to the back post. Cian Ashford played his part; he leapt and sent a header back across goal to allow the Australia international an easy finish from just a couple of yards out. To give some context to how lean City's goal streak has been, it was their first home goal since November 9 - just the four hours and 53 minutes of goalless football for the home supporters.

But the Bluebirds were the better team in a first half which was punctuated by a stoppage midway through thanks to an injury to referee Geoff Eltringham.

Callum Robinson thought he had got on the score sheet after O'Dowda