There were three changes in the Cardiff line-up with Kasper Schmeichel, Roger Johnson and Trevor Sinclair all starting.
Schmeichel was in the action in the eighth minute when he leapt high to tip over a fierce shot from Paul Hayes as the Iron went looking for an early goal.
It was nervous start by City and Kevin McNaughton was lucky to get away with a handball in the area four minutes later as the Bluebirds struggled to get out of their own half.
On the half hour City at last strung a few passes together but, just as the goal opened up for Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Cliff Byrne's outstretched leg sent the ball spinning behind for a corner.
City went ahead in the 37th minute when Hasselbaink worked free down the right before crossing to McPhail who flicked the ball in from close range.
They began to improve slightly after going ahead and at the half-time whistle were camped in the visitors' half.
Paul Parry went on for the injured McNaughton early in the second half and Sinclair dropped back to cover in defence.
The visitors took full advantage and, when a Kevan Hurst centre went across goal without being cleared, Goodwin raced in to score from a tight angle.
Now it was back to the same old Cardiff and they looked like a side lacking in confidence.
Steven Thompson went on for the ineffective Robbie Fowler on the hour but the City midfield were finding it hard to make any headway against the busy visitors.
Ten minutes from time a Parry corner was headed goalwards by Darren Purse but Cleveland Taylor rose to head over the crossbar from his own goalline and the Bluebirds had to be content with a point.