Heaton heroics send Cardiff through

Cardiff keeper Tom Heaton was the hero with two saves in a 3-1 penalty shootout win over Crystal Palace as the Bluebirds reached their first ever Carling Cup final.

Cardiff had led on the night after Anthony Gardner, Palace's first-leg matchwinner, put through his own net. The hosts struck the woodwork three times through Kenny Miller, Filip Kiss and Aron Gunnarsson, while Palace played with 10 men from the 78th minute after captain Paddy McCarthy was dismissed for two fouls on Scotland striker Miller.

But the missed chances did not prove costly as Heaton, who is second choice behind David Marshall, saved from Jermaine Easter and Sean Scannell, before Jonathan Parr put the decisive spot-kick wide.