Report by Steve Garland at Deepdale
Snapshot: Cardiff suffered further Deepdale heartache as they succumbed to a 3-0 defeat at the hands of ten man Preston North End, making it back to back defeats for the Bluebirds.
In an embarrassing defeat for City, the Lilywhites opened the scoring in bizarre fashion just before the half hour mark, as the Referee awarded a penalty for Paul Quinn's off the ball push on Ross Wallace; Jon Parkin slotting home for his first of the afternoon.
The goal failed to ignite a response from the Bluebirds who struggled to create any clear openings in the first half, Chris Burke and Peter Whittingham coming closest with their long range efforts.
But in the second half, Cardiff were given a route back into the match as Paul Coutts was sent off for a second bookable offence. Instead they conceded just three minutes later, as Jon Parkin slotted home his second of the match to ensure the victory for the home side.
It could have been more for the Lilywhites as Parkin again troubled the City defence, but could only hit the post with his hopeful chip. But the ten men would put the polish on their victory with just four minutes to go as Chris Brown chipped Peter Enckelman following a comedy of errors from the Finn.
Nonetheless it had been a forgettable performance by the Bluebirds, ensuring a second defeat on the bounce as City continued to hang on to their play-off berth.
Chronological Report: Cardiff City travelled to Deepdale desperate to put the record straight against Preston North End after last season's 6-0 defeat and add a much need three points to re-ignite their promotion push.
Having only won once in their last four league outings, the Bluebirds edged what was a scrappy encounter early on. Both Chris Burke and Ross McCormack both threatened the Preston defence with two early efforts on goal, whilst Preston could only muster a tame Ross Wallace effort in the opening ten minutes.
But the Lilywhites would soon have the first real chance of the game. With a quarter of an hour gone, good link up play between strikers Neil Mellor and Jon Parkin put Keith Treacy one on one with keeper Enckelman; Treacy's shot going just wide of the left hand post to the relief of the Finnish stopper.
The game would soon go quiet again however, with both sides finding it hard to create an opening. Cardiff had perhaps edged the midfield battle, but to say that the game needed a goal would have been a huge understatement with twenty-five minutes gone.
But it soon came in bizarre fashion as Preston opened the scoring. As Cardiff looked to go on the attack, Paul Quinn pushed Ross Wallace in an off the ball incident inside the penalty area. Having not seen the incident, Referee Hall went over to consult with his Linesman on his far side, before awarding a penalty to the Lilywhites with just under half an hour gone. Jon Parkin stepped up to convert from the spot, slotting home to the left of keeper Enckelman.
GOAL: Preston North End 1-0 Cardiff City (Jon Parkin pen 28 mins)
Once again it was not going right for the Bluebirds at Deepdale as the goal failed to promote any response from Dave Jones' side in the next ten minutes. In fact Preston looked more likely to double their lead, with front men Mellor and Parkin consistently winning the battle against the Cardiff defence.
And with just five minutes left of the first half they rippled the back of the net again, only to see it chalked off by the linesman for offside. It was a lucky break for the Cardiff defence, who lost concentration to allow Keith Treacy to slide an easy ball into the feet of Mellor in the six yard box. The former Liverpool striker converted and wheeled away to celebrate only to see the linesman's flag on the far side, to ensure the Bluebirds deficit was still only the one.
It was a wake up call for the Bluebirds who came close through Chris Burke's audacious long range attempt before creating their first real chance of the game. McCormack did well to find Jay Bothroyd in the area with space for a shot, and the Captain's effort stung the hands of Lonergan in the Preston goal. They would soon come close again in first half injury time through a Peter Whittingham free-kick just outside the area, Whitt's produced a curling effort just going wide of the left hand post, ensuring Preston would go into the break with their lead.
Half Time: Preston North End 1-0 Cardiff City
Half Time: Preston North End 1-0 Cardiff City
Cardiff City Substitution: Gabor Gyepes off - Mark Kennedy on (45 mins)
Dave Jones opted for a change at the back to try and improve City's fortunes in the second half, the departure of Gyepes ensuring Kevin McNaughton would face a tough 45 minutes in aerial battle with Jon Parkin.
The Bluebirds started the second period how they finished the first however and soon had a chance to gain parity as Chopra looked to trouble the Preston defence. Chop's effort was blocked rebounding to Gavin Rae in the area who, with time and space, just sent his effort wide of Lonergan's left hand post.
Cardiff would soon get another slice of fortune as Paul Coutts fouled Burke on the far side. Having already been booked Coutts was given his marching orders by Referee Hall to ensure Preston would now play the remaining forty minutes with ten men.
Red Card: Paul Coutts (second bookable offence)
But despite the extra man, it would be the side with ten men would double their lead just three minutes later, as Jon Parkin fired home for his twelve of the season. Now up against McNaughton, Parkin out muscled and turned the Scot to fire home under the outstretched Enckelman and double North End's lead.
GOAL: Preston North End 2-0 Cardiff City (Jon Parkin 54 mins)
Preston North End Substitution: Neil Mellor and Keith Treacy off - Chris Sedgwick and Darren Carter on
Now leading the line on his own, Parkin again troubled the Cardiff defence as he skipped past McNaughton and Anthony Gerrard on the edge of the penalty area, before rounding keeper Enckelman who just managed to get a touch. Parkin though looked to chip in for his hat-trick, only to see the ball rebound off the far post.
Cardiff City substitution: Paul Quinn off - Adam Matthews on (58 mins)
Bluebirds defending had been non existent for much of the game, prompting another change by Manager Jones as they looked for a way back into the match against the ten men of Preston. But it did not come.
Cardiff failed to capitalise on the extra man for the next half hour, as they failed to test Lonergan once and give hope of a comeback. Instead Preston were allowed to comfortably see out their two goal margin as the game headed into its final ten minutes.
Preston North End Substitution: Jon Parkin off - Chris Brown on (81 mins)
It soon became embarrassing for the Bluebirds as Peter Enckelman gifted the Lilywhites a third. The Cardiff stopper was culpable on the right flank as he looked to clear his lines, and as he tracked back, substitute Chris Brown produced a delightful chip to increase the ten men's lead to three.
GOAL: Preston North End 3-0 Cardiff City (Chris Brown 86 mins)
City's day was summed up in the stoppage time as Bothroyd went clear to try and claim some consolation for the Bluebirds - but looking destined to score, Lonergan produced a marvellous save to deny Cardiff even that. It had been another day to forget at Deepdale, as the Bluebirds suffered a second straight defeat, form they will need to turn round against Middlesbrough next Saturday.
Full Time: Preston North End 3-0 Cardiff City
