City battled to earn a point against Preston North End at Deepdale on Tuesday evening.
With the hosts leading in added-time, attacker Yakou Méïté netted a dramatic late leveller for the Bluebirds.
Three changes were made from our draw with Queens Park Rangers last time out, with Dimitrios Goutas, Jesper Daland and Calum Chambers coming into the starting XI.
The hosts had the ball in the net early-on as Will Keane fired home, but the Lilywhites striker was offside. Minutes later, wing-back Kaine Kesler-Hayden cut inside from the right and fired over the woodwork. At the other end, City looked to be growing into the contest with a series of set-pieces, but it was North End that took the lead with 19 minutes on the clock, as Milutin Osmajić fired home.
With 30 minutes played, Osmajić went close to getting his second as a dangerous low delivery came into the City area, but Will Fish made a crucial intervention. The Bluebirds responded well and forced a chance through Rubin Colwill, who showed quick feet to find space in the box and forced goalkeeper David Cornell to tip his powerful effort over.
Returning to the side, Chambers had a big influence on City’s next attack, as he won the ball back and found Cian Ashford, whose strike flew just wide of the post.
Winger Will Alves was introduced at the break and made an instant impact, as he found a leveller in the 52nd minute. Following a swift break forward, the loanee’s effort found the bottom corner. Buoyed by the equaliser, City had their tails up and went close to a swift second, as Ashford broke into the box but fired wide.
In a good spell for the Bluebirds, the ball then broke to Chambers on the edge of the area, whose effort was tipped behind by goalkeeper David Cornell. Despite knocking on the door for a second goal, the hosts regained the lead through Stefán Þórðarson’s header.
City continued to battle and looked for a leveller, before finding it in the 94th minute, as Alex Robertson's cross was turned home by Méïté.
FINAL SCORE: PRESTON NORTH END 2-2 CARDIFF CITY
Preston North End: Cornell, Porteous, Whiteman ©, Keane (Riis 70’), Frøkjær-Jensen, Brady, Hughes (Greenwood 65’), Gibson, Þórðarson, Osmajić (Lindsay 77'), Kesler-Hayden. Subs not used: Stowell, Meghoma, Evans, Storey, Ledson, Mawene.
Cardiff City: Horvath, Rinomhota (Robertson 65’), Goutas (Alves 46’), Fish, Daland, O'Dowda (C), Chambers, Mannsverk, R Colwill (Robinson 70’), Ashford (Davies 81’), Salech (Méïté 70’). Subs not used: Turner, Bagan, Turnbull, Tanner.