Championship top scorers Blackburn Rovers had their strong early-season form checked with a goalless draw at home to 10-man Cardiff City.

Armstrong was denied again by Bluebirds keeper Alex Smithies after the break, before Lee Tomlin was sent off for a second booking with 20 minutes left.

Blackburn dominated possession from that point but did little with it.

It was a frustrating afternoon for Rovers, who stay sixth in the Championship with seven points from four games, whereas Cardiff will have been satisfied with their resolute late defending which secured a point to take them up to 14th in the table.

The Bluebirds became the first team this season to keep a clean sheet against Blackburn, who had scored 11 goals in their first three matches, with nine of those coming in 5-0 and 4-0 thrashings of Wycombe and Derby in their most recent outings.

And as Tony Mowbray’s entertainers had also won 3-2 at Cardiff in July, there were hopes for another free-scoring encounter at Ewood Park.

However, it soon became apparent that would not be the case, with both sides struggling to play with much fluency as torrential rain made for tricky conditions.

Cardiff were the first to threaten, former Rovers winger Hoilett cutting in the from the left and whipping an excellent shot towards the top corner, which Thomas Kaminski did well to palm away.

Blackburn did not create their first chance of note until the final minute of the first half, when Armstrong ran into the Cardiff penalty area but saw his shot smothered by Smithies.

When Armstrong was thwarted by the Cardiff goalkeeper again after an hour, it was beginning to feel like Blackburn were taking a hold of the game.

That was certainly the case when Tomlin inexplicably got himself sent off. Sam Gallagher was in his own penalty area when Tomlin came charging in, leading with his elbow and sending the Blackburn substitute tumbling to pick up a second yellow card.

From that point for Cardiff, it was simply a case of defending.

Blackburn kept possession almost exclusively but genuine scoring opportunities were relatively scarce, Gallagher mishitting from an Amarii Bell cross and Bradley Johnson having a shot blocked.

The hosts attacked with increasing desperation as time ticked away but they could not find a way through against stoic opposition.