Coca-Cola Championship
Gareth Davis reports from Pride Park Stadium

Derby made it three games unbeaten in a week but they were forced to settle for their second successive draw after being pegged back by a controversial penalty.

They held the advantage at half-time through Martin Albrechtsen's powerful finish from close-range after a Nacer Barazite corner caused panic in the Cardiff defence.

The enjoyed more possession but they failed to carve out any clear opportunities of their own and were handed a lifeline on 69 minutes when Miles Addison caught Joe Ledley.

There was contact but whether that came inside the box was debatable, though the penalty was awarded and tucked away by Ross McCormack.

Derby kept pushing for a winner, with goalkeeper Roy Carroll a spectator for long periods, and although Nathan Ellington forced Tom Heaton to save sharply it wouldn't come.

But it's another step forward for Paul Jewell's side and now they have a clear week to prepare for next Saturday's trip to Queens Park Rangers, one of the favourites in the Coca-Cola Championship this season.

Rob Hulse for Przemyslaw Kazmierczak was the Rams' only change from the side that drew 1-1 away to Swansea City in midweek.

The striker, fresh from scoring his first Derby goal seven days ago against Sheffield United, missed out against the Swans through injury but returned in place of the Pole.

Kris Commons remained on the sidelines so Stephen Pearson kept his place after scoring at the Liberty Stadium.

Bright sunshine greeted both sets of players and they were welcomed by a raucous reception from all four sides of Pride Park that continued well into the early stages of the game.

That was despite a lack of serious goal threat until the tenth minute when Nacer Barazite turned on the edge of the box and scuffed his shot through, but Tito Villa couldn't quite stretch far enough to angle it towards goal.

Major action was proving hard to come by but on 18 minutes Derby had a scare as Roy Carroll rushed out of his goal to clear, only for the ball to arrive at the feet of Ross McCormack some 40 yards out.

It was almost reminiscent of Stiliyan Petrov's stunning effort for Aston Villa last season but this time, thankfully, the ball dipped just wide of an unguarded target.

Cardiff, unbeaten so far this season, were enjoying far more of the ball than their hosts who took until the 29th minute to force their first corner of the game - and it produced their first goal.

Barazite's right-wing delivery was flicked on to the far post by Villa where it dropped to Martin Albrechtsen, who absolutely hammered it in to the roof of the net from ten yards.

It was the Rams' first real shot on goal but Tom Heaton stood no chance as the powerful Dane registered his first goal since joining over the summer from West Bromwich Albion.

Cardiff's response was rather limited, other than to force a couple of corners, and from the second of those Peter Whittingham drifted inside only to curl his shot tamely into the arms of Carroll.

On 40 Derby had penalty appeals rejected as Paul Green went down in the box under Roger Johnson's challenge, though both referee and assistant were unmoved.

And that was pretty much that as far as the first half was concerned with the visitors enjoying most of the ball - but the one goal was Derby's.

The Cardiff goal was under immediate pressure as the second period got underway.

Villa was again involved heavily and it was the persistence of he and Hulse that created a shooting opportunity for Barazite, though the Dutchman's effort flashed just over the bar from 20 yards.

The Argentinean then fired one wide of the target as he carved out a chance for himself with the visiting defence dallying on the ball.

Former Pride Park loanee Whittingham hadn't enjoyed a particularly fruitful afternoon on Cardiff's right and it was no surprise when he was replaced by Jay Bothroyd on 55 minutes.

That meant the vistors' personnel moving around and for a while they appeared to be finding more space, particularly Paul Parry, who saw two powerful shots well blocked by Albrechtsen.

Derby responded with their own first substitution on 65 as Steve Davies took over on the left from Pearson.

And with the Rams atacking, Cardiff broke quickly to earn themselves what looked to be a controversial penalty.

Bothroyd rolled the ball along the edge of the box where Miles Addison slid in on Joe Ledley and while there looked to be contact, whether it was inside the box was debatable.

The disgruntlement from the home faithful was deafening as McCormack stepped up to send Carroll the wrong way and level matters.

Barazite looked the Rams' most likely source of a chance to go back in front as he looked to get on the ball at every opportunity, even moving in from the right to drive play from a more central position.

It was another corner of his that saw Davies head goalwards where Heaton grabbed then dropped the ball while under pressure, possibly over the line, though the referee's whistle had already blown to pull play back for a foul.

There was almost another controversial goal for Cardiff with nine minutes remaining as Bothroyd, clearly several yards offside, escaped on a long pass and rolled the ball in for substitute Eddie Johnson, only for Albrechtsen to stretch out a leg and clear from in front of goal.

Nathan Ellington was then introduced in place of Rob Hulse with Derby still seeking a clear chance to retake the lead.

The Duke had that sight of goal on 88 minutes as he superbly took down a long Albrechtsen ball on the edge of the box and cut inside on to his right foot, only to fire straight at Heaton.

Green scuffed a late shot wide to bring to an end a tight encounter that neither side could really lay claim to warranting all three points from.

Derby: Carroll, Connolly (C), Green, Stewart, Villa, Hulse (Ellington 83), Leacock, Addison, Barazite, Pearson (Davies 65), Albrechtsen.

Substitutes: Bywater (GK), Kazmierczak, Nyatanga.

Cardiff: Heaton, McNaughton, Rae, Purse (C), Whittingham (Bothroyd 55), McPhail, Parry, R Johnson, Comminges, Ledley, McCormack (E Johnson 77).

Substitutes: Enckleman (GK), Gyepes, Morris.

Attendance: 28,007 (1,677 visiting fans).