Villa stay cool to net a point - match analysis

By Nick Mashiter

While they will deal with higher temperatures on the continent Villa at least proved they can handle the heat in the Premier League.

The claret and blues head to sunnier climes to take advantage of the 11-day break before their trip to Newcastle.

A respite from the relentless nature of the top flight which has so often threatened to keep them shackled to another season-long relegation fight.

That battle is far from over, but they go after a point at Cardiff last night which could so easily have been three.

In a congested table where eight points separate the bottom half every point is precious and it would have felt like two dropped for both sides.

Cardiff dominated the first half – hitting the woodwork through Fraizer Campbell and Craig Noone – while Fabian Delph and Andi Weimann were denied by two wonderful David Marshall saves.

Villa failed to build on the four-point gap to the bottom three but it was at least a response from Saturday's meek efforts against West Ham.

Questions were raised ahead of the trip to south Wales and remained at half-time, only to dissipate a little in the second half.

Villa still struggle to maintain consistent performances and will continue to do so until they add more quality to an erratic side.

Cardiff hadn't beaten Villa since 1974 – although they had only played three times since – and they suffered a blow just two hours before kick-off.

Craig Bellamy was banned for three games after accepting his FA charge of violent conduct from the Bluebirds' 3-0 derby defeat to Swansea on Saturday.

There would have been a collective sigh of relief as the striker was ruled out but by then Ron Vlaar was waiting.

The skipper's return was desperately needed. Villa are yet to win without their leader – losing five and drawing one – as they increasingly rely on his presence.

Villa's failure to buy defensive reinforcements in January – although Jores Okore is due back next month – could have backfired spectacularly.

But with the forthcoming break Vlaar could be risked. It paid off as he was a rock at the back to give Villa a platform to secure their sixth clean sheet of the season.

He and the claret and blues grew into the game and when Cardiff did wriggle free Brad Guzan and the woodwork denied them.

Vlaar calmed the side as Ciaran Clark paid the price for a poor display against the Hammers and dropped to the bench.

Andi Weimann was replaced by Marc Albrighton while Matt Lowton was left out completely. Joe Bennett made his first Premier League start since the final day of last season as an auxiliary winger designed to help blunt the dangerous Noone.

And the visitors survived a double scare on 14 minutes. First, Campbell's effort was touched onto the post by Guzan and then Noone's follow-up deflected off Ashley Westwood and hit the bar.

There was more purpose to the hosts, Noone and Wilfried Zaha the driving forces with Zaha seeing a 'goal' rightly ruled out for offside.

In contrast the claret and blues were anaemic, Christian Benteke a mere observer in an anonymous first half.

That changed after the break as Cardiff ran out of steam and Villa grew into the game.

Villa sensed a chance and Leandro Bacuna wasted their first opening when he shot wide following a neat interchange with the previously quiet Gabby Agbonlahor.

Marshall produced his first fine save of the night, turning Delph's deflected strike wide.

Cardiff were spent and nine minutes from time Villa should have scored but, having been set clear by Benteke's cute flick, Agbonlahor hesitated with just Marshall to beat and shot wide.

Even then Villa could have won it in stoppage-time when Weimann was denied by a brilliant one-handed save from Marshall.