Albrechtsen (30)
McCormack (pen 69)
Roy Carroll
Paul Connolly (Capt)
Jordan Stewart
Martin Albrechtsen
Dean Leacock
Nacer Barazite
Paul Green
Rob Hulse (Ellington 83)
Miles Addison
Tito Villa
Stephen Pearson (Davies 65)
Stephen Bywater
P Kazmierczak
Nathan Ellington
Lewin Nyatanga
Steve Davies
Tom Heaton
Kevin McNaughton
Gavin Rae
Darren Purse (Capt)
Peter Whittingham (Bothroyd 56)
Steve McPhail
Paul Parry
Roger Johnson
Miguel Comminges
Joe Ledley
Ross McCormack (Johnson 78)
Peter Enckleman
Gabor Gyepes
Eddie Johnson
Jay Bothroyd
Aaron Morris
MARTIN Albrechtsen’s first goal for Derby County was not enough to give them their second league victory of the season this afternoon.
Albrechsten fired the Rams ahead in the first half but Ross McCormack equalised for unbeaten Cardiff City from the penalty spot in the 1-1 draw at Pride Park Stadium.
The point stretched Derby’s own unbeaten run to three matches but wins remain in short supply.
They went in front on the half hour mark and against the run of play.
Cardiff thought Emanuel Villa fouled Stephen McPhail as the Argentine striker forced a corner but the referee waved away the appeals.
Nacer Barazite delivered from the right and the ball glanced off Villa’s head and reached Albrechtsen, 15 yards out and on an angle. The Danish defender took aim and hammered a left-foot volley high past Tom Heaton.
Before the goal, Cardiff had played most of the football without really testing Rams keeper Roy Carroll.
Carroll’s poor kicking had been the biggest threat to Derby and one flat clearance went straight to McCormack whose lob from fully 35 yards drifted over, much to Carroll’s relief.
Villa pulled a shot wide early in the second half but the visitors levelled on 68 minutes.
Albrechtsen rather sold himself as he tried to challenge Jay Bothroyd on half way and Paul Parry raced down the right. His low centre was laid off by McCormack for Joe Ledley who was brought down by Miles Addison.
Referee Mark Haywood awarded the penalty and McCormack coolly sent Carroll the wrong way.
Albrechtsen’s last-ditch tackle prevented susbtitute Eddie Johnson putting Cardiff in front eight minutes from time and for all their effort in the second period, Derby did not look like scoring.
Nathan Ellington’s shot two minutes from the end was held by Heaton who had a comfortable afternoon.
Cardiff have now drawn five of their seven Championship fixtures while the Rams have six points from their seven and sit 20th
DERBY COUNTY: Carroll; Connolly, Leacock, Albrechtsen, Stewart; Barazite, Green, Addison, Pearson (Davies, 66); Hulse (Ellington, 84), Villa.
Subs: Kazmierczak, Nyatanga, Bywater (gk).
CARDIFF CITY: Heaton; McNaughton, Purse, R Johnson, Comminges; Whittingham (Bothroyd, 56), McPhail, Rae, Ledley; McCormack (E Johnson, 78), Parry.
Subs: Gyepes, Morris, Enckleman (gk).
REFEREE: M Haywood (West Yorkshire).
ATTENDANCE: 28,007 (away fans 1,677).