Bluebirds on the brink as Brannagan's blast denies Ramsey's men

CARDIFF City's survival hopes were dealt a hammer blow after Cameron Brannagan's 35-yard screamer meant Aaron Ramsey's first game in charge ended in an agonising draw with Oxford United.

- GLEN WILLIAMS Football writer [e-mail]

Every other possible result went against Cardiff on a day which has seen their hopes of avoiding relegation almost evaporate.

In a season where Cardiff have drawn too many games, it feels there is no coming back from this most recent, most painful one.

Yousef Salech put the Bluebirds ahead with more than half-an-hour to go but Brannagan's thunderous effort means the draw is almost as good as a loss for City, with all of Plymouth, Luton, Derby and Hull racking up wins.

It leaves Cardiff three points adrift of safety with just two games to go and an awful goal difference.

This really did feel like the day when all hope was lost and realisation has begun to set in.

Ramsey was tasked with steering this club to safety and - make no mistake - this was billed as a must-win clash.

How much he, Chris Gunter, Matt Bloxham and Tom Hutton would have been able to inject into this squad in two days is difficult to know, but this was a Hail Mary.