STEVE THOMPSON’S late equaliser denied his former side Cardiff the chance to close within a win of the league leaders.
Substitute Thompson had only been on the pitch for 10 minutes when he flicked a Ross Wallace corner past Cardiff goalkeeper Tom Heaton to cancel out Michael Chopra’s first-half strike.
The hosts were all set to close the gap on Championship leaders QPR to three points after Chopra beat Lee Grant with a clinical finish in first-half injury-time.
Cardiff started brightly with Chopra aiming a 20-yard effort just wide after four minutes.
He went even closer two minutes later, hitting the crossbar with a shot from the edge of the box after Wallace’s poor clearance went straight to him. Chopra then set up midfielder Peter Whittingham but Grant produced a superb save.
But Burnley almost stunned Cardiff twice in the space of a minute. Chris Eagles should have fired the visitors in front after Jack Cork crossed into the danger area but he aimed straight at Heaton. Burnley had another chance seconds later following a surging run down the right by Tyrone Mears, only to see Cardiff defender Mark Hudson come in with a crucial block.
Cardiff broke the stalemate in first-half stoppage-time when Chopra met Jay Bothroyd’s cross.
And Bothroyd thought he had ensured the win moments later when he got his head in the way of a thumping goalbound effort, only for Thompson to strike in the 83rd minute.