Burnley striker Steve Thompson did Norwich City a favour by snatching two Championship points from the grasp of second-placed Cardiff.

The Bluebirds gained only a one-point advantage over the Canaries from their game in hand when Thompson came off the bench to score a late equaliser against his former club at the Cardiff City Stadium.

Michael Chopra put the hosts ahead in first-half stoppage time but they had to settle for a 1-1 draw, which left them five points behind leaders Queens Park Rangers from the same number of games. Thompson scored with a glancing header from Ross Wallace's corner in the 83rd minute.

A draw was probably the best result for Norwich, who remain right on Cardiff's heels in third place while Burnley, in eighth, are seven points behind the Canaries from the same number of games.

But last night's result means in-form Nottingham Forest could move into second place tonight if they beat Scunthorpe.

Cardiff boss Dave Jones lamented letting two points slip away, though his side stretched their unbeaten run to seven matches.

He said: 'It was a difficult game and we probably should have seen it out, but the manner we conceded so late on was very disappointing.

'It was the only time we switched off but they have good players and we gave the ball away far too easily during the second half.

'It was a soft goal to give away and you cannot leave the near post unattended. If it was from the centre of the goal then fair enough, but not from that position.

'We should have gone for the jugular in the first half when we were well on top.'

Burnley boss Eddie Howe, whose side beat the Canaries 2-1 just 11 days ago, felt they should have chalked up their third win in a row.

He said: 'I think we deserved to win the game as we were in control apart from the opening 15 minutes.

'Although before the game I would have been pleased with a point, now it's over I think we should have had all three.

'I would love to think we could make a late surge towards the play-offs but we have some tough games coming up.'