Cardiff earn replay after stalemate

An Emirates Stadium replay will now be required after an entertaining repeat of the 1927 final, which the Bluebirds won 1-0, failed to produce a goal.

That was certainly not for the want of trying as both sides created chances, before City striker Ross McCormack almost knocked the Gunners out late on when his free-kick hit the bar.

The Bluebirds may be leaving Ninian Park for a brand new stadium across the road next season but the dilapidated old ground was the perfect stage for a Cup upset.

Dave Jones' players, who had claimed many a scalp there in Coca-Cola Championship action this term, clearly thought so and put Arsenal under pressure from the start.

The opening minutes saw McCormack twice come close from good positions, first with a header then with a shot across goal after fellow Scot Chris Burke had seen a drive blocked by Kolo Toure.

The chances continued to rack up with Jay Bothroyd firing over from distance, Joe Ledley launching a volley that was also too high and Paul Parry failing to hit the target after his trickery had left Toure on the turf.

The home side found it impossible to keep up the early high tempo but Arsenal could only muster snatched shots from distance by Alexandre Song and Kieron Gibbs, who was in at left-back for the suspended Gael Clichy.

There was a chance for Emmanuel Adebayor when Robin van Persie's cross was deflected beyond the back post but the substitute fired tamely at the goalkeeper.

Samir Nasri came close with a curling shot destined for the top corner - but again Peter Enckelman was equal to the effort. But McCormack almost had the final say when his 30-yard free kick beat the flying Lukasz Fabianski but clipped the crossbar before going over.