Cardiff City 1-1 Blackpool: Seasiders captain Gary Madine returns to haunt former club

Gary Madine joined Cardiff from Bolton Wanderers in January 2018 but never scored for the Bluebirds.

Blackpool captain Gary Madine returned to haunt Cardiff City by snatching a draw in south Wales.

Madine failed to find the net during a miserable two-year spell at Cardiff but his deflected header earned a point.

Kion Etete had earlier scored his first goal of the season after the home side dominated the first half.

But the Bluebirds missed the chance to move clear of the relegation zone where injury-hit Blackpool remain despite moving up one place.

Cardiff will feel this was two points dropped after they were made to pay for missing a host of further chances.

Their frustration will be only deepened by a sense that Madine was fortunate to still be on the pitch after receiving only a yellow card for a reckless stamp.

It capped a disappointing day after the Welsh club was dealt a blow before kick-off when they confirmed they are under a transfer embargo after failing to pay the first instalment of the £15m transfer fee to French club Nantes for Emiliano Sala.

The Bluebirds had already lost their appeal to Fifa but chairman Mehmet Dalman said he was "confident" the club will be able to lift the embargo before the January transfer window, despite refusing to pay.

Blackpool were already without seven first-team players and Michael Appleton's injury problems only worsened with the loss of goalkeeper Chris Maxwell.

Replacement Dan Grimshaw was pressed into immediate action as Cardiff, fielding an attacking line-up, smelt blood.

Ryan Wintle had an early chance before Callum Robinson struck Mahlon Romeo's cross straight at the goalkeeper.

Gavin White went close and Etete twice fired over but Cardiff were enjoying plenty of success down the right through Romeo.

Wintle should have done better with his first time shot from Mark Harris' clever through ball but the writing was on the wall.

Kion Etete's first goal of the season was not enough to clinch three points

The introduction of a stand-alone centre forward in Etete, rewarded for his display in the draw against Stoke City, appears to have lifted the shackles from Robinson and the pair combined for the first goal in the 36th minute.

Robinson picked up possession inside his own half, shrugged off one challenge before picking a wonderful through ball for Etete.

The Tottenham product had too much pace for James Husband and showed a touch of class with his finish, lifting the ball first-time over on the on-rushing Grimshaw.

It was the least the home side deserved but Mark Hudson's concern will have been that the lead should have been at least double.

Blackpool looked a side not only hit by injuries but by a chronic lack of confidence yet whatever Michael Appleton said at half-time had the desired effect.

Captain Madine led from the front through he was fortunate to remain on the pitch for a stamp on the foot of Perry Ng early in the second half.

Half-time substitute Ian Poveda then provided the touch Blackpool were lacking to create the equaliser.

Poveda jinked one way and then the other to turn Ng inside out before delivering a perfectly weighted pass for Madine's header to deflect of Romeo past Ryan Allsop.

The goal sapped the energy out of the Bluebirds' legs.

In contrast Blackpool were galvanised but Jake Beasley's looping header was as close as they came to a winner while Cardiff faded.