Football: JAMES DEFIES THE BLUES

EVEN England keeper David James had to touch wood for luck as West Ham defied rampant Cardiff to scrape a draw.

A string of spectacular saves from James kept Cardiff at bay and, when he was finally beaten, Welsh international John Robinson saw his shot rebound off a post to sum up Cardiff's frustration.

The Bluebirds, urged on by 19,202 fans - their biggest league attendance for 23 years - started well and striker Gavin Gordon spurned a chance to fire them ahead on 35 minutes.

Gordon, way down the pecking order at Ninian Park, had been given his chance because of a series of injuries. But he could only hold his head in horror as he missed an open goal from an inch-perfect Tony Vidmar cross.MAN OF THE MATCH DAVID JAMES

Showed his England class.

CARDIFF: Alexander 7, Croft 7, Vidmar 8, Bonner 6, Gabbidon 7, Barker 7, Kavanagh 7, Robinson 8, Gordon 6, Earnshaw 7, Langley 6.

WEST HAM: JAMES 9, Repka 6, Hutchison 6, Carrick 7, Dailly 7, Connolly 6 (Mellor 6, Ferdinand 6), Defoe 7, Etherington 7, Quinn 6, Mullins 7 (Lee 6), Stockdale 6.

MANAGER RATINGS: Lawrence 6; Pardew 6. REFEREE: M Ryan 6.

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