FA Cup 3rd round: West Bromwich Albion 2 Blackburn Rovers 2 - Andy Neild's match verdict

ABSENT holders, lucky losers and ties being played a month too early - they say the FA Cup has lost its magic.

But try telling that to the hundred-or-so Cardiff fans who chanted and celebrated as if they were at the final itself instead of at The Hawthorns on Saturday.

Their team should have been taking on Bolton at The Reebok but they got news that it had become a victim of the weather as they travelled up the M5.

So they decided to watch Rovers v West Brom instead and they were treated to a real cracker.

Crunching challenges, last-ditch defending, great goalkeeping and some razor sharp finishing were the main ingredients in a pulsating second half.

And if the presence of the new Cardiff branch of the Rovers supporters club inspired anyone, then it was their old boy Nathan Blake.

The Welsh international striker has taken time to settle since arriving at Ewood.

But he was at his rampaging best in front of his fellow countrymen, teasing and tormenting the Albion defence with his power and pace.

And after setting up Per Frandsen's opener, his sizzling second half strike looked to have secured Rovers passage into round four.

Albion supersub Micky Evans had other ideas, though, and he turned out to be a real pain in the AXA, bagging a late equaliser with his first touch. But West Brom deserved another bite at the cherry after playing their full part in an end-to-end contest.

Brian Little's men were always adventurous thanks to the midfield promptings of Richard Sneekes and Enzo Maresca.

And in Lee Hughes and James Quinn up front, they carried a potent threat going forward.

Hughes was a real handful and Rovers have probably not come up against a more dangerous opponent all season.

Never afraid to pull the trigger, the Baggies striker was as red-hot as some of the curry dishes he loves to eat in his spare time.

And he very nearly pinched a late winner only to be denied by the excellent Alan Kelly.

But Rovers were also dangerous on the break, with Per Frandsen and Jason McAteer pouring forward at every opportunity.

And once the recalled Callum Davidson got used to his unfamiliar left-wing role, he too provided a couple of telling crosses as the game wore on.

Neither side deserved to win it on the day, though, and caretaker boss Tony Parkes will be happy with a replay, even if his side led twice.

Rovers were lucky to survive a fierce onslaught by the home side in the opening 20 minutes. James Quinn fired over, Kelly saved a close-range effort from Hughes, and Quinn again headed wide from Matt Carbon's deep left-wing centre as Sneekes won the midfield battle.

Then a brave saving tackle from Lee Carsley denied Hughes after a typically twisting run.

But the former Derby man took a nasty whack in the face and after lengthy treatment he was replaced by Damien Johnson.

Rovers had to re-shuffle after that as

McAteer moved into the centre but it turned out to be a masterstroke as the visitors suddenly played with more drive going forward.

Blake should have hit the target with a free header from Davidson's cross.

And Frandsen had a shot tipped over by Chris Adamson before another effort from the Dane flew inches wide.

In between, however, Rovers survived when Sneekes rattled the bar with a stinging drive from the edge of the box.

But the tie really came to life in the second half and it was the visitors who found the extra gear.

Davidson fired into the side-netting, a McAteer piledriver was deflected over and a last-ditch tackle from Larus Sigurdsson stopped Blake in his tracks. A flowing move involving Blake, Frandsen and McAteer then put Davidson clear, but he shot wildly over with just the keeper to beat.

But one of Rovers lightning counter-attacks finally paid dividends in the 64th minute, sparking a glut of four goals in 16 minutes. Blake shrugged off a couple of challenges on the left and hit a shot which struck the referee, but McAteer retrieved it, teed-up Frandsen and his effort from the edge of the box took a wicked deflection and flew in the opposite corner.

West Brom's reply was instant, however, and they were back on terms within a minute as the ball landed at the feet of dangerman Hughes on the edge of the box, and he beat Kelly with a curler.

Rovers weren't finished, though, and they seized back the lead with another classic break- away much to the delight of the Welsh contingent.

Frandsen and Davidson both swopped passes before the ball arrive at Blake on the left and he shrugged off a defender before rifling a screamer into the far corner.

Kelly then saved brilliantly from Maresca as Albion turned up the heat. But he was left helpless in the 80th minute when Sneekes slipped a ball through to Hughes who twisted past Christian Dailly, and though his shot struck a defender inside the six-yard box, supersub Evans poked home the equaliser.

Albion suddenly had their tails up and in a grandstand finish, Kelly pulled off a breathtaking save to deny Hughes from point-blank range after Kevin Kilbane's corner had been flicked on.

Late chances then fell to Ashley Ward and Hughes again, but neither man could find a winner, so it's back to Ewood in eight days time where there will be no lucky losers.

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