After a disappointing result against Barnsley last weekend, Cardiff City are back on the road as we travel north to take on Darren Ferguson's Preston. Simon Glanville has the lowdown ahead of the game.
Cardiff team news: Dave Jones has received am injury boost for the trip to Preston with David Marshall and Anthony Gerrard passed fit. Goalkeeper Marshall is ready to return after a knee injury while Gerrard has been given the all clear after a suffering a bang to the head against Barnsley. Aaron Wildig has been struggling with a back injury, but could figure, while Kelvin Etuhu and Stephen McPhail should be back within a few weeks. Darcy Blake has a virus and is being monitored.
Preston team news: Former Bluebird Paul Parry will miss out on a reunion with Cardiff after suffering tendonitis in his knee. Parry has not played in 2010 and the game in South Wales will come too early for him. Callum Davidson has also missed out recently through injury, but Richard Chaplow is back in training and available for the visit of 'City.
Preston's season so far: After somehow pipping Cardiff to a play-off place last season, big things were expected of Preston again this season. The Lilywhites started the season in good form, but after a poor run boss Alan Irvine was shown the door in a surprise move.
Darren Ferguson has been brought into replace Irvine, and he brings a great track record after successive promotions with Peterborough. Ferguson will know he faces an uphill challenge to get promotion this season, as Preston are ten points adrift of the top six. But he can take heart from how his new club came from nowhere to clinch a top six finished last term.
Last meeting: A second-half goal from Chris Burke separated 'City and Preston when the Lilywhites visited the Cardiff City Stadium just before Christmas.
Teams from last meeting at Oakwell on 5th December 2009:
Bluebirds: Marshall, Quinn, Gerrard (Kennedy 57), McNaughton, Hudson, Burke, Scimeca, Whittingham, Ledley (Rae 64), Chopra (McCormack 61), Bothroyd. Subs not used: Enckelman, Taiwo, Etuhu, Matthews.
Preston: Lonergan, Jones, Chilvers, Davidson, Collins, Tonge, Ross Wallace, Chaplow, Parry (Mellor 69), Parkin (Brown 69), Elliott (Sedgwick 69). Subs not used: Shumulikoski, Henderson, Hart, Nolan.
Attendance: 18,735.
Preston last time out: Just like Cardiff a few weeks prior, Preston suffered a setback at St James' Park last time out after a rampant Newcastle showed their class. Goals from Peter Lovenkrands, Kevin Nolan and Ryan Taylor ensured the home side won by a comfortable three goals to nil.
Preston: Lonergan, Jones, St. Ledger, Mawene, Williams, Ross Wallace, Sedgwick (Treacy 61), Coutts, James, Parkin, Welbeck (Mellor 74). Subs not used: Chilvers, Carter, Henderson, Elliott, Hart.
