Preston North End vs Cardiff City. Sky Bet Championship.
Deepdale.
Report and highlights from the Sky Bet Championship clash at Deepdale
Monday 19 October 2020 10:07, UK
Liverpool loanee Sheyi Ojo scored Cardiff's winner as they clinched a battling 1-0 win at Preston.
The 23-year-old winger scored his first English League goal for 34 months as the Bluebirds edged a scrappy showdown and made it five unbeaten away from home in the league.
Preston had a few good chances of their own but lacked a killer bite in front of goal as they slipped to a third league defeat of the campaign.
Lilywhites boss Alex Neil had the pleasure of being able to include midfielder Alan Browne in his starting line-up following a Covid scare.
The Republic of Ireland international was a real doubt for the clash with the Bluebirds following imposed self-isolation.
Browne was given the captain's armband as Neil had the luxury of naming the same team that scored four goals in 18 minutes to go from 2-0 down to beat Brentford last time out.
The hosts were the brighter starters and midfielder Brad Potts saw his thunderous free-kick charged down by Cardiff's defensive wall.
Moments later, striker Sean Maguire cut inside and forced a smart save from Cardiff 'keeper Alex Smithies at his near post.
Cardiff countered well and Junior Hoilett let rip with a powerful volley, but defender Ryan Ledson threw himself at the ball to avert the danger.
Wales international striker Kieffer Moore was making a nuisance of himself up top and he went close, powering a header over from Jordi Osei-Tutu's pinpoint cross.
Potts had another good chance on the stroke of half-time but blasted his right-foot shot straight at the thankful Smithies.
The breakthrough came seven minutes after the break when Preston were caught sleeping after a superb counter-attack from the visitors.
Ojo collected the ball from Moore in a flowing move, went on a mazy run and smashed past helpless Preston 'keeper Declan Rudd.
Ojo, now at his sixth loan club, was strong to hold off two defenders and clinical as he picked out the top-right corner with his delicious strike.
Preston forward Scott Sinclair, who scored twice in a fine comeback win over the Bees before the international break, tried his luck from distance with 15 minutes remaining but rifled straight at Smithies.
Substitute Jayden Stockley went close to levelling but, agonisingly for the hosts, his header crept wide of the left upright.
Stockley had another good opportunity with two minutes remaining, but the striker headed straight at Smithies. It summed up Preston's frustrating Sunday afternoon.
Preston's Alex Neil: "We've lost three games 1-0, so the most frustrating thing is that there's not been much in the matches. When you get beat heavily it's easier to take in some ways, but when you lose 1-0 it's frustrating to take.
"We just need to find that bit of quality that unlocks defences. It's always a concern when you're not scoring goals, but we did score four against Brentford in our last game."
Cardiff's Neil Harris: "We now have to find a way of being more clinical at home, but we've got two games in three days and we'll look forward to them. We've got a foothold in the division and need to build on that. I was really pleased with the way we saw the game out.
"You know what to expect from Preston, they have a distinct way of playing and it's hard to play against them. But we stood firm and strong and we had the most important moment in the game. We had the ruthless moment to get the three points."
