Burnley 3 - 3 Cardiff City

Burnley 3-3 Cardiff

Updated: April 26, 2008, 5:41 PM UK

Second-half goals from Joe Ledley, Aaron Ramsey and Steven Thompson helped FA Cup finalists Cardiff come from behind to earn a creditable 3-3 draw in a thriller at Burnley.

The Bluebirds appeared to be heading to a third successive defeat in the Coca-Cola Championship when Andy Cole added to Graham Alexander's hotly-disputed first-half opener.

But Ledley struck from the penalty spot just before the hour and teenager Ramsey hauled the sides level, before Clarke Carlisle headed what looked like the winner for the hosts four minutes from time.

The recalled Thompson, however, had other ideas as he held his nerve to net an 89th-minute equaliser in dramatic finish at Turf Moor which also saw Cardiff's Darren Purse sent off right at the death.

Purse tangled with Cole and referee Andy Hall had little option but to give the defender his marching orders.

Burnley boss Owen Coyle named the same starting XI which claimed a 1-0 win at Southampton last weekend, while Cardiff counterpart Dave Jones made wholesale changes, handing starts to the likes of Darcy Blake, Riccardo Scimeca, Thompson and Trevor Sinclair.

Peter Enckelman pulled off two smart saves in the opening seven minutes to first deny Cole from just outside the penalty area before palming Ade Akinbiyi's 12-yard drive round the post, as the hosts started with plenty of attacking intent.

Stephen McPhail flashed a left-footed volley wide from an acute angle after 22 minutes, but chances were at a premium in a game in which two mid-table sides with nothing but pride to play for cancelled each other out.

James O'Connor had a 20-yard goal-bound shot blocked by Glenn Loovens just after the half-hour mark, before Alexander broke the deadlock nine minutes before half-time.

Alexander exchanged passes with Cole before firing low past Enckelman from six yards, although the home side's celebrations appeared to have been cut short when the linesman flagged for offside.

Fortunately for Alexander, and the Clarets, Hall overruled his assistant and the 36-year-old celebrated his first goal since joining from Lancashire rivals Preston last summer.

McPhail then departed with what appeared a serious knee injury on the stroke of half-time to compound matters for Cardiff.

Things went from bad to worse for the Bluebirds as Cole took his tally since joining Burnley on loan from Sunderland to six goals nine minutes after the restart.

Akinbiyi worked tirelessly down the right flank before crossing for strike partner Cole to fire high into the net from barely six yards out.

But City were gifted the perfect chance to pull one back barely three minutes later when Stephen Jordan bundled over Sinclair and Hall duly awarded a penalty.

Substitute Ledley - who replaced McPhail - made no mistake from the resulting spot-kick, blasting the ball low past the hapless Brian Jensen.

Ledley then turned provider for Ramsey's equaliser 21 minutes from time as Cardiff turned the game on its head in spectacular style.

Ledley fed Ramsey on the left flank and the 17-year-old midfielder coolly drilled right-footed past Jensen from 12 yards.

Akinbiyi had a looping header saved well by Enckelman and the City stopper also somehow kept out Joey Gudjonsson's close-range strike, before Carlisle headed Burnley ahead yet again four minutes from time.

Carlisle rose well to meet Steven Caldwell's centre and headed home his first goal since the end of September from six yards out.

But there was still time for Cardiff to haul level with one minute of normal time remaining.

Again Ledley was instrumental and his cross allowed Thompson to fire unmarked past Jensen from well inside the six-yard box, and Purse was sent off shortly afterwards to cap a grandstand finish.