Kevin McNaughton, Kerrea Gilbert, Stephen McPhail and Michael Chopra started the game with Kamara, McKoy, Johnson and Glombard all making an appearnce in the second half.
City overall looked solid enough with Darren Purse and Glenn Loovens in fine form at the heart of the defence. The game excited in fits and starts. City had the upper hand of the first half with most of the play pushing towards the Canton Stand where City were attacking.
Auxerre had their moments, a shot from distance stung Alexander's hands and the French put a couple of efforts wide but were caught offside too often.
City kept the same XI for the first half but made changes in the second half.
Chopra's goal came just before half time. Joe Ledley placed a precision pass for Steven Thompson to chase down the left hand side. Thompson placed a super cross that Chopra met with a header to guide the ball past Cool in the Auxerre goal. It really was a quality effort.
The second half started with Marvin Kamara on for Kevin McNaughton. Joe Ledley moved to left back to cover the missing Scot with Kamara coming wide right allowing Paul Parry to revert to the left (Parry played right wing first half).
It only took 2 mins for Ledley to bring down an attacker and Auxerre were awarded a penalty. Pieroni took the kick and blasted it past Alexander.
Soon after the substitutions came. Glombard for Thompson, Johnson for Purse, Whitley for McPhail, McKoy for Scimeca and Ferretti for Man of the Match Chopra.
There was tension in the match as the Auxerre No.4 was booked for a cynical challenge. He continued to infuriate the City players with trips and niggles. At one time there was a right kerfuffle in the box which earned Darren Purse a talking to and an incident missed by the referee that saw Chopra tripped off the ball by the aforementioned No.4.
He was soon substituted before he was sent off.
Both sides went looking for a winner, Chopra came close for City, Auxerre nearly snatched a late goal but it ended 1 - 1.
I think both sides will be happy that the teams gave each other a tough game.
For City next up is an assault on the Championship while Auxerre will look to improve on 6th place in the French League and they are in the Uefa Cup.
Cardiff City (starting line up)
Alexander, Gilbert, Purse, Loovens, McNaughton, Parry, Scimeca, McPhail, Ledley, Thompson and Chopra.