ALBION moved within two points of the automatic promotion places by stretching their unbeaten away run to five games in this highly-entertaining Ninian Park stalemate.

The Baggies dominated for long spells and the recalled Ishmael Miller went the closest to bagging the visitors' 100th goal in all competitions this term when he rattled the Cardiff bar in the 54th minute.

But Dave Jones' team also had their moments as both sides signed off in style ahead of their big days out at Wembley this weekend.

Tony Mowbray made four changes. Miller, Pele, James Morrison and Neil Clement - making his first Albion start since August - came in for benched trio Kevin Phillips, Roman Bednar and Chris Brunt while Bostjan Cesar was left out altogether.

Fit-again centre-half Leon Barnett and keeper Michal Danek returned to the bench.

The two FA Cup semi-finalists kicked off with burning promotion ambitions. A win would take Albion back into the top two while a home success would move City within three points of the play-offs.

Cardiff settled the quickest and created a great opportunity in the seventh minute.

Steve Thompson had the freedom of the Albion penalty area as he strolled onto strike partner Paul Parry's neat throughball, only for the ex-Rangers man to inexplicably fire high over Dean Kiely's bar.

Albion's sloppiness in possession during the opening stages invited sustained Bluebirds pressure - but the visitors stood firm.

With both teams working hard without the ball, the game descended into a war of attrition and neither keeper was tested by the half's midpoint.

But that all changed when Albion suddenly moved up a couple of gears.

Cardiff had a lucky escape of their own in the 24th minute, when only Glenn Loovens' last-ditch goalline clearance prevented Gera's far-post drive going in.

Seconds later, Miller powered towards the City box and saw a fierce low drive brilliantly turned away by Peter Enckelman.

Albion were now well on top and the Bluebirds keeper again had to be on his toes to turn over Jonathan Greening's dangerous cross-cum-shot.

Gera was the next to try his luck when he chested down Miller's neat lay-off in the 34th minute and fired over from 25 yards.

The duo combined again moments later when Miller nodded the ball down to the Hungary star, who blazed a half-volley over from 15 yards.

It was all Albion, but the increasingly influential Miller failed to trouble Enckelman with a 20-yarder, which the ex-Villa man easily gathered.

Cardiff threatened briefly before half-time when Carl Hoefkens did well to take the sting out of Parry's turn and shot in the box, providing Kiely with an easy save, after the Baggies failed to cut out Trevor Sinclair's cross.

Albion were soon back on the attack after the break and Gera was again off target when he fired Paul Robinson's low cross over from 15 yards.

Seconds later, Robert Koren flashed a 25-yard volley wide of Enckelman's right-hand post.

Albion were stroking the ball around with real composure and went agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock in the 54th minute.

Miller spun his marker on the left-hand edge of the box and rattled the City bar with a left-foot rocket from what looked an impossible angle.

The Baggies pressure continued when Pele smashed a poor clearance straight at Enckelman from 20 yards.

Cardiff regrouped and Joe Ledley saw a 20-yard snapshot deflect off an Albion man and squirm wide.

Former Baggie Riccy Scimeca, who had come on as a 54th-minute sub, then shot straight at Kiely from 20 yards.

Mowbray made his first changes in the 67th minute, replacing Miller and Gera with Bednar and Brunt.

Albion were still enjoying plenty of possession but were relieved to see Ledley head Tony Capaldi's centre over

And they had a real let-off in the 70th minute.

Sinclair seized on Robinson's under-hit backpass and rounded Kiely on the right-hand byline before pulling the ball back to Gavin Rae.

The ex-Rangers midfielder looked certain to score as he aimed for the empty net - but Hoefkens saved the Baggies' bacon by throwing his body at the ball and diverting it away from danger.

Back came Albion and Enckelman sparked a goalmouth melee when he could only parry Morrison's snapshot, but neither Brunt nor Koren could force the ball home.

Brunt then sent a 20-yard missile straight down Enckelman's throat with his supposedly weaker right foot.

Mowbray made his final throw of the dice when he replaced Koren with top scorer Phillips in the 74th minute.

The action was now swinging from end to end but Kevin McNaughton failed to trouble the Albion goal with an ambitious 30-yarder.

Albion created a great chance four minutes from time thanks to a swift breakaway. Phillips found the unmarked Bednar with a peach of a cross but the giant Czech could only head straight at Enckelman.

CARDIFF (4-4-2): Enckelman; McNaughton, Loovens, Johnson, Capaldi; Ledley, Rae, McPhail, Sinclair; Thompson (Feeney HT, Scimeca 54), Parry (Whittingham 48). Subs not used: Oakes (gk), Purse.

ALBION (4-5-1): Kiely; Hoefkens, Albrechtsen, Clement, Robinson; Gera (Brunt 67), Koren (Phillips 74), Pele, Greening, Morrison; Miller (Bednar 67). Subs not used: Danek (gk), Barnett.

GOALS: None.

BOOKINGS: ALBION - Clement (foul 60).

REFEREE: M Atkinson (West Yorkshire).

ATTENDANCE: 13,915.