Match Report | Preston North End 1-2 Cardiff City
The Bluebirds earned a dramatic late win over Preston North End at Deepdale on Saturday afternoon.
Striker Milutin Osmajic put the hosts ahead, but City showed character to fight back, with winger Karlan Grant finding an equaliser in added time, before Iké Ugbo headed home brilliantly to earn all three points.
Erol Bulut made two changes to the side that faced Norwich City last time out, with Rúnar Alex Rúnarsson and Perry Ng coming into the starting XI.
City started brightly and had an early effort at goal through Manolis Siopis, who found space to try his luck from distance, forcing goalkeeper Freddie Woodman to save. The hosts then had a period of pressure, but the Bluebirds defended well, preventing Rúnarsson from being called into early action.
Bulut’s men replied by going close to taking the lead. Callum Robinson was found in the area, before having an effort blocked by Liam Lindsay. From the resulting corner, the ball came to Ng in the box, whose powerful strike at goal was saved by Woodman. City continued to create chances, as a corner fell to Yakou Méïté, whose instinctive shot was again kept out by Woodman.
Before the break, the hosts went close with a corner of their own, as Lindsay headed goalwards, forcing Rúnarsson to save. City reacted well, with Josh Bowler cutting in from the right and delivering into the box, leading to Robinson almost turning the ball home at the back post.
The hosts took the lead at the start of the second half, as Osmajic raced through and found the net in the 48th minute. As City looked for a swift leveller, Méïté broke forward and was brought down by Robbie Brady, who was shown a second yellow card, reducing the Lilywhites to ten men.
With a man advantage, City pushed forward and went close to equalising through Grant, who fired just wide of the post from the edge of the area. In another chance, Robinson cut inside from the left and struck towards goal, with Woodman making another save.
In added time, substitute Ryan Wintle went close to making an instant impact, striking a fierce effort just over the bar. With 95 minutes on the clock, the ball dropped to Grant in the box, who powered the ball home from close-range to equalise. Two minutes later, City earned a dramatic win, as striker Ugbo found the net with a brilliant header.
The Bluebirds return to action on Tuesday evening, facing West Bromwich Albion at Cardiff City Stadium, 7.45pm KO.
FINAL SCORE: PRESTON NORTH END 1-2 CARDIFF CITY
Preston North End: Woodman, Whiteman, Lindsay, Browne ©, Evans (Ledson 59’), Brady, Storey, Holmes, Osmajic (Millar 84’), Best (Hughes 59’), Potts. Subs not used: Cornell, Keane, Frokjaer, Stewart, Ramsay, Whatmough.
Cardiff City: Rúnarsson, Ng, Goutas, McGuinness (Panzo 76’), Collins, Ralls (C) (R Colwill 73’), Siopis (Wintle 90'), Robinson, Grant, Bowler (Tanner 73’), Méïté (Ugbo 73’). Subs not used: Alnwick, Romeo, Rinomhota, Adams.
