The Wales international blasted home a 65th-minute penalty after Baggies defender Bernt Haas upended Mark Bonner.

The Baggies looked to be on course for their sixth successive away win when midfielder Jason Koumas opened the scoring with a deflected 20-yard.

Albion's hopes of scoring had seemed remote following the loss of striker Scott Dobie just before half-time.

The former Carlisle marksman, only in the side because Danny Dichio was on the bench with a slight ankle injury, was stretchered off after colliding with keeper Neil Alexander.

Baggies boss Gary Megson, already without Lee Hughes after he was charged by police with causing death by dangerous driving following an accident at the weekend, was forced to bring on midfielder Artim Akiri.

The unchanged Bluebirds made an impressive start and could have been in front inside the opening two minutes.

Baggies keeper Russell Hoult was given an early test as he tipped over Richard Langley's volley from a Danny Gabbidon cross.

The Wales international glanced John Robinson's resulting corner narrowly wide as City laid siege to the visitors' goal.

Earnshaw should have done better five minutes later when he pounced on a Gavin Gordon cross but mistimed his shot from 12 yards and Hoult made a comfortable save.

Cardiff carved open another chance as Julian Gray's deep cross to the far post was headed into the danger area by Gordon only for Robinson to shoot wide from 15 yards.

However, Koumas nearly gave Albion the lead against the run of play midway through the half as his mazy run and shot was saved and grabbed at the second attempt by Alexander with Rob Hulse lurking.

City nearly capitalised when Dobie was forced off the field as Gordon drilled Chris Barker's cross over from close range in injury time.

The Baggies were on course for victory once Koumas put them ahead, but the Welshmen looked the most likely to take maximum points once Earnshaw hammered in his spot-kick.

Langley shot wide from 25 yards, but the midfielder went agonisingly close to sealing the points nine minutes from time.

Earnshaw was brought down 22 yards out and Langley curled a superb free-kick against the bar which bounced off the line before the danger was cleared.

But Alexander pulled off the save of the night to tip Koumas' deflected 30-yard free-kick over the bar to earn his side a draw.

Cardiff: Alexander, Croft, Vidmar, Gabbidon, Barker, Gray, Langley, Bonner, Robinson, Gordon, Earnshaw. Subs: Thorne, Campbell, Prior, Boland, Margetson.

West Brom: Hoult, Haas, Gregan, Gaardsoe, Gilchrist, O'Connor, Johnson, Robinson, Koumas, Dobie, Hulse. Subs: Murphy, Sakiri, Dichio, James Chambers, Clement.

Referee: B Curson (Leicestershire)

		P	GD	PTS
1	Newcastle	27	27	56
2	Nottm Forest	28	23	52
3	West Brom	27	26	50
4	Cardiff	27	22	45
5	Swansea	27	3	42
6	Sheff Utd	27	4	41
7	Blackpool	27	10	40
8	Leicester	26	2	39
9	Middlesbrough	28	7	37
10	Bristol City	27	-4	36
11	Preston	26	-2	35
12	QPR	27	-4	34
13	Doncaster	26	-1	33
14	Coventry	28	-8	33
15	Barnsley	26	-8	33
16	Scunthorpe	27	-13	33
17	Watford	26	-6	32
18	Derby	28	-11	32
19	Sheff Wed	28	-12	31
20	Crystal Palace	27	2	30
21	Ipswich	27	-8	29
22	Reading	27	-16	26
23	Plymouth	26	-14	24
24	Peterborough	28	-19	18