Town and Cardiff are drawing 1-1 at half-time, courtesy of stunning strikes from Daryl Murphy and Peter Whittingham.
Skipper Luke Chambers and top scorer Daryl Murphy returned to an otherwise unchanged side with Tommy Smith dropping to the bench.
Stephen Hunt, who made his first start of the season in the 1-1 draw with Blackburn on Saturday, was amongst those who travelled but not included in the 18, along with Darren Ambrose and Alex Henshall. Youngster Matt Clarke was again named on the bench.
The Blues started the stronger and on four Murphy, returning after an achilles problem, brought the ball forward to the edge of the box before shanking his shot high and wide.
Cardiff were the first side to seriously threaten in the 13th minute when Anthony Pilkington curled a looping effort goalwards which Dean Gerken palmed over the bar, Christophe Berra having blocked the former Norwich man’s initial shot.
From the resultant corner, Conor Sammon missed Peter Whittingham’s corner which somehow avoided everyone in the six-yard box until it reached Federico Macheda beyond the far post. The former Manchester United man looked to cut the ball back and Cole Skuse did well to hook it away ahead of the awaiting Bluebirds.
As heavy rain joined the swirling wind, David McGoldrick sent a shot well wide, before Williams created an opportunity for Sammon. The Welshman fed the on-loan Derby striker on the right of the area but he scuffed the ball past the post and too far ahead of McGoldrick.
On 21 Craig Noone, who had been the home side’s brightest spark early on, had the ball in the net but after Macheda had strayed offside.
Williams shot wide from distance for Town, then at the other end Adam Le Fondre smashed the ball well over from a Pilkington cross.
The game had been an even affair with Town having most of the ball, although with Cardiff perhaps having had the better of the chances, but on 29 the Blues went in front.
Bluebirds left-back Fabio made a mess of dealing with Chambers’s long ball forward and it fell to Murphy who took it on a few strides before slamming a superb half-volley into the right-hand corner of the net, giving keeper David Marshall no chance.
The Blues continued to press having gone in front via Murphy’s seventh of the season, Jonny Parr believing he should have been awarded a penalty when clipped as he looked to get onto a bouncing ball in from the left.
On 33 Williams was fouled by Bruno Ecuele Manga on the edge of the box but McGoldrick curled the freekick well over.
Four minutes later, the home side were on terms. Kevin Bru headed on Murphy’s clearance from a corner on the left. Whittingham out-muscled Williams, turned and then smashed a 25-yard strike beyond Gerken and into the net. It was a goal every bit as good as Murphy’s at the other end.
As the break approached, McGoldrick nodded a Mings cross from the left back into the box but Whittingham cleared.
The 1-1 scoreline was a fair reflection of the first half, both sides having had spells in charge but without creating too many chances.
Cardiff had probably had the better of the opportnities prior to Murphy’s excellent goal, while the Blues had had more of the ball, passing it around confidently and with the trickery of Williams and McGoldrick causing the Cardiff backline a few headaches, although largely outside the box.
Whittingham’s strike gave keeper Gerken no chance, although the Blues will be disappointed not to have got the ball away by that stage. The goal was the ninth Town have conceded either directly or indirectly from corners in all competitions this season.
Cardiff: Marshall (c), Brayford, Fabio, Morrison, Ecuele Manga, Whittingham, Gunnarsson, Noone, Pilkington, Macheda, Le Fondre. Subs: Moore, Gabbidon, Connolly, Ralls, Kim, Daehli, Maynard.
Town: Gerken, Parr, Mings, Chambers (c), Berra, Skuse, Bru, Williams, McGoldrick, Murphy, Sammon. Subs: Bialkowski, Clarke, Smith, Tabb, Anderson, Bishop, Bajner. Referee: David Coote (Nottinghamshire).