Cardiff travelled to Preston today looking for revenge after Preston beat them around this time last year 6-0 which started Cardiff’s decline out of the play-offs. And it didn’t go as planned today after losing but this time only conceding 3 goals.

Cardiff started well at Deepdale as winger Chris Burke saw a shot blocked and striker Ross McCormack nearly scored from a long range free kick. But it was the hosts who should have scored after 20 minutes when Tracey was one on one with keeper Enckleman after Parkin’s defence splitting pass only for Tracey to drag his shot wide. Preston fans didn’t have to wait long before the deadlock was broken as ten minutes later Preston were awarded a penalty. The referee awarded a penalty after consulting the linesman after Quinn seemed to push Wallace needlessly in the area; Parkin took advantage as he scuffed the penalty in.

Preston then went from strength to strength and scored once again when Mellor headed the ball home, only for the linesman to rule out the goal for offside. Cardiff had their first chance of the afternoon when Bothroyd had a run and shot with tested Preston keeper Andy Lonegran for the first time, and soon after when Wittingham saw a free kick just go wide.

Within ten minutes of the second half there had been a red card and a goal, and both went to Preston North End. Preston first saw Coutts sent off after receiving his second yellow, and within a minute Preston extended their lead when Parkin punished Cardiff for not clearing from a free kick. Lonegran then kept Cardiff out after saving from Ross McCormack, and then Gerrard saw a header blocked by St Ledger.

Preston scored again late on after a mistake from Peter Enckleman gave Chris Brown the chance to seal the win for the home team. Bothroyd nearly got a consolation goal but the striker missed his one on one late on in the match to end a miserable day for the Welsh team.

Preston North End Line-Up; Lonegran, Mawene, St Ledger, Jones, Williams, Coutts, Treacy (Sedgwick 56), Jones, Wallace, Parkin (Brown 82), Mellor (Carter 56) Bench; Henderson, Hart, Chilvers, Sedgwick, Carter, Brown, Elliott

Cardiff City Line-Up; Enckleman, McNaughton, Gyepes (Kennedy 46), Quinn (Matthews 61), Gerrard, Rae, Whittingham, Rae, Burke, Chopra, Bothroyd, McCormack Bench; Marshall, Kennedy, Capaldi, Taiwo, Blake, Matthews, Wildig

Attendance; 11,777

Referee; Hall

David Osterland