PASSIONS are supposed to run high on Valentine's night, but things almost got out of hand at the end of this hard-fought draw.

In added time, following a spirited Cardiff fight-back, midfielder Jason Koumas was felled in the Luton box and the Bluebirds felt they should've had a penalty.

The players' appeals were waved away. But - after the final whistle - Dave Jones had to be dragged back from referee Andy Woolmer. He was joined by almost all the City players and Neil Cox was yellow-carded near the tunnel.

It was a dramatic end to what had been a thrilling game. City 2-0 down at half-time, grabbed a goal back and, despite Luton pulling away again, the Bluebirds managed to peg them back.

It was an error-strewn performance by Cardiff particularly in defence, but the Bluebirds never stopped battling, the sort of tenacity they will need to display if they are to make the play-offs this season.

Cardiff went into the game seventh in the Championship, five points off Preston in the final play-off place, and will see this as two points dropped, particularly following the penalty that never was.

As expected, Cardiff boss Jones, brought Jason Koumas back in after his suspension against Stoke on Saturday.

The Hatters were boosted with the news that first-choice goalkeeper Marlon Beresford was available. Luton had appealed against the red card Beresford received in his team's 5-1 thrashing at Preston and the sending off was rescinded.

From the kick off Cardiff forced a corner straight away and, when the ball fell to Cooper on the edge of the box, perhaps remembering his cracker against Stoke, the midfielder had a crack, but it was deflected away.

On 10 minutes the industrious Ndumbu-Nsungu's headed flick almost fell into the path of Cameron Jerome, but Beresford was out to gather.

Little did Cardiff know, that half chances like that were about as good as it was going to get during the first half.

Luton started to take control, and Cardiff found themselves being overrun in midfield.

As the pressure mounted, City's defence, which had looked so solid in recent outings, started to grow in anxiety and mistakes crept in.

Captain Darren Purse mistimed a header and it looked like Luton's other frontman, Rowan Vine, was through but Alexander got their first.

Another shot from the lively Vine was merely a prelude to him punishing the Bluebirds twice within a minute.

A foul by Cox saw a Luton free-kick floated into the Cardiff box, the ball was cleared to Dean Morgan, whose shot for goal was wayward, but as it went wide, Vine popped up to head it past Alexander.

Cardiff were shaken and almost immediately from the restart the ball fell to Carlos Edwards, who was having a great game, tormenting Chris Barker down the Cardiff left at every opportunity, the former Wrexham man launched a long ball forward, which caught the Cardiff defence cold.

Vine again was through, in a bizarre moment, as he reached to hit it with his right he missed, the ball hit his left leg and trickled past a bemused Alexander, who might've done better.

Cardiff tried to force themselves back into a game that was slipping away.

The second half began with Luton's Morgan shooting wide with Alexander at full stretch.

But on 54 minutes Cardiff were back into the match, even if their endeavours had not quite earned it.

Koumas picked up a loose ball in midfield and ran at the retreating Luton defence, perhaps no one had told them this was not the best plan of action.

From 25 yards Koumas fired an exquisite shot that Beresford couldn't get a hand to before it hit the net.

City might have got level but a Ndumbu-Nsungu header just missed the target and it was Luton who were to reinstate their two-goal cushion.

Vine escaped Purse and got to the byline, he pulled the ball across and Neal Ardley miskicked his clearance only sending it close to the Cardiff goal-line and beyond Alexander's grasp.

Ahmet Brkovic had the simple task of firing it home from close range.

Cardiff almost got one back when a Purse knock-down fell to Jerome just six yards out, but his snapshot was well saved by Beresford.

Then on 70 minutes Cardiff brought it back to 3-2. Ardley's cross was met by Riccy Scimeca, who firmly headed home from just inside the Luton box.

Minutes later it could've been all square, when Joe Ledley found space, but his shot hit the top of the bar.

With Whitley on for Cooper, the midfield looked more solid than it had as Cardiff set about looking for an equaliser.

An attempted chip by Ledley on 79 minutes was simple for Beresford.

Jones brought on Italian youngster Andrea Ferretti with 10 minutes left to shake things up and City were level almost immediately, and it was Koumas proving the hero again.

The midfielder spun away beautifully from a defender, ran unchecked into the box and shot home low to send the Cardiff fans behind the goal into ecstasy.

It could've got better for Cardiff, but Jerome's shot was well saved by Beresford diving to his right.

Scimeca got booked near the end and on the stroke of full-time Leon Barnett was lucky to get away with just a caution after clattering into Alexander.

Then at the death Koumas went down in the box, but ref Woolmer waved the appeals away. Cue mayhem. One thing's for sure the ref won't be receiving a Valentine's card from City boss Jones next year.