Aaron Ramsey in action for Cardiff City

Match Report | Cardiff City 0-2 Preston North End

Match Reports
Cardiff City were defeated by the Lilywhites at CCS on Saturday afternoon.

Erol Bulut made two changes to the team who beat Watford last time out, as full debuts were handed to Nat Phillips and David Turnbull.

City started the brighter of the two sides with their first effort on target coming from Kion Etete, as his eighteen-yard strike was gathered by Freddie Woodman.

The first real chance of the half arrived in the 19th minute and fell to Karlan Grant, who saw his powerful strike saved after skipping past his man.

Kion Etete in action for Cardiff City

Despite City’s early pressure Preston took the lead in the 31st minute with their first attempt on goal. Riis Jakobsen cut in from the left and scored at the near post.

Following this, the visitors doubled their lead with their second attempt on goal, as Mads Frøkjær-Jensen squared the ball to Whiteman, who finished into the bottom left corner, as City went in at the break two goals down.

In a second half which contained few chances for either side, the Bluebirds started the brighter of the two teams. In the 50th minute Phillips saw his header fly wide following Aaron Ramsey’s free kick. Ramsey returned to action for the first time since September, being introduced at half-time.

Later on in the 60th minute, following a one-two with Ramsey, Grant took on the shot from twenty yards but blazed his effort over.

Karlan Grant in action for Cardiff City

Despite late pressure from City, which included a debut for Famara Diedhiou and a thunderous effort from Dimitrios Goutas, the visitors ran out 0-2 winners.

Cardiff City return to Championship action on Tuesday, February 13th as we travel to face West Bromwich Albion.

FINAL SCORE: CARDIFF CITY 0-2 PRESTON NORTH END

Cardiff City: Alnwick, Ng, Goutas, Phillips (Méïté 84’), Collins, Wintle © (Ramsey 45’), Siopis, Turnbull (Colwill 71’), Grant, Bowler (Wilson-Esbrand 45’), Etete (Diedhiou 62’). Unused subs: Horvath, Romeo, Ralls, Tanner.

Preston North End: Woodman, Whiteman, Lindsay, Keane, Browne © (Ledson 80’), Frøkjær-Jensen (Woodburn 86’), Storey, Hughes, Riis Jakobsen (Osmajic 86’), Millar (Brady 86’), Potts (McCann 72’). Unused subs: Cornell, Cunningham, Stewart, Whatmough.