DERBY County fought back from two goals down to draw 2-2 against managerless Cardiff City at the iPro Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Having dominated the first half, the Rams fell behind to goals from Aron Gunnarsson and Peter Whittingham early in the second half.
However, Liverpool loanee Jordon Ibe got Steve McClaren's men back in the match and Craig Bryson netted a fine 84th-minute equaliser.
The hosts pushed for a winner but had to settle for a point at the end of the tough week.
The first chance of the match went to the visitors inside two minutes - Gunnarsson sending a free header over the bar from Anthony Pilkington's free kick.
Derby were soon on top, though, and in the ninth minute, Martin combined well with Will Hughes but Marshall blocked well as the striker attempted to lift the ball into the net.
Simon Dawkins had the ball in the net moments later, from another Hughes pass, but the flag was up for offside.
Dawkins then fired over after good work from Craig Forsyth and Martin.
Marshall took a risk by racing out of his goal to challenge Forsyth in the 16th minute but referee Andre Marriner ruled that he got the ball before the man.
The Rams went close again after 28 minutes when Cyrus Christie's low cross from the right broke to in-form Ward, whose fierce drive was beaten away by Marshall.
Ward's centre was then cleared as far as Hughes, whose volley was deflected narrowly wide, off Dawkins.
Bryson headed wide from another Ward cross, with Pilkington and Craig Noone both sending long-range efforts over the bar either side of that chance.
Despite their first-half dominance, Derby went behind after 51 minutes.
Gunnarsson's goalbound effort had been diverted inches wide by Richard Keogh.
From the resulting corner, Matthew Connolly headed back across for Gunnarsson to hook into the net from close range.
Ibe was brought on for Dawkins but the Rams went further behind after 55 minutes.
Zak Whitbread scuffed a clearance and though Pilkington's cross was blocked, the ball fell kindly for Whittingham, who smashed an unstoppable shot into the far corner.
Derby were back in the game on the hour.
Christie did well on the right and centred for Ibe to sweep a first-time shot past Marshall from 12 yards.
Tom Adeyemi saw a shot deflected just wide off Keogh, while at the other end, substitute Leon Best had a goalbound effort blocked by Bruno Ecuele Manga.
Best then went around Marshall in the 82nd minute but lost the ball and the keeper pounced before Martin could get there.
Derby's final sub, Johnny Russell saw his well-struck 25-yard drive beaten out by Marshall.
But Russell set up the equaliser, rolling a pass to Bryson, whose first-time shot from just outside the area flew in off the post.
The Rams pressed for a winner but the closest they came was when Best's far-post effort was charged down from point blank range.
DERBY COUNTY: Grant, Christie, Keogh, Whitbread, Forsyth, Eustace (Best, 59), Hughes, Bryson, Ward (Russell, 79), Dawkins (Ibe, 53), Martin. Other subs: Roos (gk), Shotton, L Naylor, Mascarell.
CARDIFF CITY: Marshall, Brayford, Connolly, Manga, Ralls, Whittingham, Gunnarsson (Maynard, 72), Adeyemi, Noone (Le Fondre, 63), Pilkington, Jones. Other subs: Moore (gk), John, Morrison, Daehli, Guerra.
REFEREE: A Marriner (West Midlands).
ATTENDANCE: 27,251.
