The FA Cup semi-finalists drew a blank in a goalless Coca-Cola Championship draw at Ninian Park which did neither side any favours in their respective play-off and automatic promotion quests.
Albion remain fourth in the table but moved within three points of leaders Bristol City with a superior goal difference.
For City, however, the prospect of the play-offs looks increasingly unlikely. They remain in 12th, five points adrift of sixth-placed Wolves.
Both sides certainly had their chances to win the game - with Steve Thompson and Gavin Rae coming close for the home side, while Ishmael Miller almost conjured a goal out of nothing for Albion.
With his back to goal 25 yards out, there seemed to be nothing on for the Baggies striker - but he spun quickly and fired a ferocious shot which cannoned off the angle of post and bar.
"I thought both sets of players came out with a lot of credit today. I thought there was no quarter given from both sides - and I enjoyed the football match," said Jones.
"Both teams had a right good go at each other - good football, a lot of endeavour and commitment from both teams. I enjoyed it.
"You wouldn't have thought there was something going on at the weekend, after we slugged it out there for 90 minutes."
Baggies boss Mowbray felt his side would have been worthy winners but conceded a point against a side he regards as good as any in the division was no disgrace.
He said: "I thought it was a decent game. Numerically I thought we had a lot more chances than Cardiff had. I think they probably had the best chance of the night - but we'll take that.
"We came here for three points. On the overall balance, I thought we deserved all three. But we'll take 0-0 and move on.
"We are very respectful of Cardiff. They are as good a football team as there is in the league, so we are pleased to have come here and restricted them to a few opportunities.
"If you were a betting man, after 12 goals in two games, it was a 'stick-on' 0-0."
Jones was left to rue injuries to forward trio Warren Feeney, Paul Parry and Steve Thompson.
The trio were all forced off the field, substitute Feeney lasting less than nine minutes before he had to be replaced.
However, Jones expects the Northern Ireland striker to be the only one who fails to make Sunday's semi-final against Barnsley.
He added: "If I'm playing a semi-final of the FA Cup I would play with a broken leg. It would take more than that to keep me out, so I would be disappointed if they [Parry and Thompson] weren't ready."
Opposite number Mowbray has no such injury concerns and already knows his team to face Portsmouth on Saturday.
"I think I know my starting line-up," he said.
"I generally try and prepare two or three games ahead, and the starting line-up has been pretty secure for a while.
"You do get individuals like Neil Clement who come in and change situations or positions - but I think we're pretty sure what we're going to do."
PA Sport