ON a night when the club honoured the memory of Jack Walker one of the players from the Academy he built came to Rovers’ rescue.

Gary Bowyer’s side were heading for a third straight home defeat after familiar foe Joe Mason gave Cardiff an early lead.

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But two minutes from the end of normal time captain and Academy graduate Grant Hanley dramatically equalised.

Rovers, minus injured star striker Jordan Rhodes, were masters of their own downfall in the opening period. 

David Raya’s poor clearance gifted the Bluebirds their opener and full debutant Hope Akpan and Shane Duffy both wasted gilt-edged opportunities.

But, after a desperately needed rally toward the end of the half, they improved after the restart and grabbed a last-gasp share of the spoils thanks to man-of-the-match Hanley.

Applause rang around the ground before kick-off as Rovers marked the anniversary of the passing of their late, great benefactor Walker.

It may be 15 years since the man who restored the club to the summit of English football left us.

His legacy, however, continues to live on.

That was reflected in Rovers boss Bowyer’s starting line-up with four players – Raya, Adam Henley, Jason Lowe and Hanley – having graduated from the club’s Academy.

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Bowyer had implored his players to make a strong start to their first home match since the dismal Capital One Cup defeat to Shrewsbury Town.

And, given the super-charged atmosphere the heartfelt tributes to Walker generated, they had the perfect opportunity to do that.

Instead they fell behind inside the first 10 minutes for the third game running.

Raya had looked unsure with his distribution from the get-go.

And in the fifth minute his under-hit kick landed at the feet of Lee Peltier, who slid over a cross that was inadvertently turned into Mason’s path by Anthony Pilkington.

Raya attempted to rectify his error but Mason dinked the ball over him and into the net.

It was the striker’s fourth goal of his career against Rovers, who went close to responding six minutes later when Fode Koita headed Craig Conway’s free kick straight at David Marshall.

Conway and Lowe later stung the hands of returning Cardiff captain Marshall while Duffy and Akpan drove efforts wide.

But in truth the Bluebirds were comfortable and they would have doubled their advantage had Kagisho Dikgacoi’s firecracker of a shot been an inch lower.

The shaky Raya also spilled a Joe Ralls strike.

With the home crowd becoming increasingly agitated, Rovers needed inspiration.

And some finally arrived in the closing stages of the first half.

Firstly Koita had a header from an inviting Tommy Spurr free kick ruled out.

Spurr then launched one of his trademark long throws which Duffy flicked on for Akpan, whose close-range header was palmed out by Marshall.

Akpan should have done better and so should Duffy moments later when, with the goal at his mercy, he sliced the ball horribly wide from six yards.

Rovers needed to continue where they left off at the start of the second half and, with Modou Barrow on for full debutant Koita, who took a knock to his knee, they did.

Duffy fizzed over a pass to Nathan Delfouneso to crash a deflected volley onto the bar before Hanley somehow headed an inswinging Conway free kick past the post from point-blank range.

Rovers, roared on by their fans, were playing with more urgency.

But, just when it looked like Cardiff had weathered the storm, they were pegged back in the 88th minute.

Bluebirds old boy Conway was the creator, whipping over a wonderful cross that Hanley volleyed in left-footed from inside the six-yard box.

And Hanley went close to winning it in injury-time only to be denied by Marshall, before the under-siege Bluebirds cleared another effort off the line.

Rovers: Raya, Henley (Guthrie 63), Duffy, Hanley, Spurr, Conway, Akpan, Lowe, Marshall, Koita (Barrow 46), Delfouneso. Subs not used: Steele, Kilgallon, Olsson, Williamson, O’Sullivan.

Booked: Akpan, Duffy.

Goal: Hanley.

Cardiff: Marshall, Peltier, Malone, Morrison, Connolly, Dikgacoi (Gunnarsson 74), Whittingham, Ralls, Pilkington, Mason (Noone 85), Revell (Jones 65). Subs not used: Moore, Fabio, Ameobi, Doyle.

Booked: Connolly, Peltier, Morrison.

Goal: Mason 5.

Referee: Scott Duncan.

Attendance: 12,025 (377 away).