MATCH PREVIEW: PRESTON v CARDIFF
Match Previews
15th October
PRESTON NORTH END v CARDIFF CITY
Venue: Deepdale
Date: Saturday 17th October 2015, 3pm K.O.
Cardiff City return to Sky Bet Championship action after the international break to face division newcomers Preston North End.
Scroll down for some vintage Whitts magic against the Lilywhites!
THE OPPOSITION
Preston North End secured promotion to the Championship in emphatic style after narrowly missing out on the top two last season. The Lilywhites put previous play-off heartbreak behind them to beat Swindon Town 4-0 in the League 1 Play-Off Final at Wembley.
Simon Grayson’s men have found things tougher since their arrival in the second tier. An August win away to MK Dons is their only victory from the opening ten League games.
Attacking midfielder Daniel Johnson has led the way in terms of goals, scoring five of their thirteen League and Cup strikes. However, due to suspension and injury, Preston will be without lethal forwards Joe Garner and Jermaine Beckford, who scored a combined forty-three goals last season.
THE OPPOSITION
Preston North End secured promotion to the Championship in emphatic style after narrowly missing out on the top two last season. The Lilywhites put previous play-off heartbreak behind them to beat Swindon Town 4-0 in the League 1 Play-Off Final at Wembley.
Simon Grayson’s men have found things tougher since their arrival in the second tier. An August win away to MK Dons is their only victory from the opening ten League games.
Attacking midfielder Daniel Johnson has led the way in terms of goals, scoring five of their thirteen League and Cup strikes. However, due to suspension and injury, Preston will be without lethal forwards Joe Garner and Jermaine Beckford, who scored a combined forty-three goals last season.
CLUB CONNECTIONS
City striker Eoin Doyle is currently on a season-long loan with Preston and has made six appearances in their shirt to date.
Other notable figures to play for both the Bluebirds and the Lilywhites include Jon Parkin who played over one hundred matches for Saturday’s opponents before making the switch to South Wales.
Meanwhile, former Bluebird Paul Parry moved to Deepdale after his five years with City. With Preston he dropped back into a left-back position, and made over eighty appearances.
Preston legend Bill Shankly also once turned out in a Bluebirds shirt. Click here to find out more information!
MEMORABLE MEETING
Cardiff City 4-1 Preston North End
Ninian Park, 2006/07 Championship
Peter Whittingham starred as Cardiff City defeated Preston 4-1 at Ninian Park. The City no. 7 scored one and set up two others in the February encounter as the Bluebirds moved into the play-off places.
Whitts netted the opener on the stroke of half time, before Michael Chopra doubled City’s advantage from the spot after being fouled in the box.
Historical Pics - Cardiff City vs Preston North End
A minute later, Preston skipper Graham Alexander netted a trade-mark penalty to give the visitors hope, only for Roger Johnson to restore the two goal lead – heading home Stephen McPhail’s cross.
The win was then sealed in style as Whittingham’s superb skill in the box allowed him to set up Chopra for the fourth.
DON'T MISS A MOMENT
TICKETS: Online: www.eticketing.co.uk/cardiffcity Phone: 0845 345 1400
LISTEN: Supporters can listen in live on Cardiff City Player HD* for all the action from Preston v City.
WATCH: Extended highlights of the match will be available to subscribers of Cardiff City Player HD*
SOCIAL: Live updates from Deepdale will come via our official Twitter account, @CardiffCityFC.
*Search ‘Cardiff City’ on the App Store and Google Play Store to view Cardiff City Player HD on Smart Phones with content available to subscribers 24/7.
