HARROP WINS WAR GAMES
JOSH HARROP’S first Preston goal left Cardiff boss Neil Warnock fuming as North End stunned the pre-match Championship leaders.
The former Manchester United starlet blasted home a 25-yard free-kick in the first half with Sean Maguire doubling the lead on 71 minutes.
Warnock’s Cardiff were unbeaten in six games before last night. But they were rocked on 38 minutes by Harrop, 21, who joined North End from United this summer and scored on just his second start for his new club.
The hosts gave Cardiff a scare on 11 minutes when Tom Barkhuizen released Jordan Hugill with a smart pass but his shot was turned away by goalkeeper Neil Etheridge. Cardiff broke with Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, who powered his way through midfield and into the penalty area but he was halted by a fine tackle from Paul Huntington.
After a frantic start the game slowed down but Cardiff tried their luck again from distance with a shot from Kenneth Zohore that flew over the bar.
Cardiff had a let-off on 37 minutes when defender Ben Davies headed Harrop’s left-wing corner wide.
But they were punished moments later after Sol Bamba conceded a free-kick 25 yards out. Harrop, who scored against Crystal Palace in the Premier League in his only senior United appearance, drilled it low past the wall and into the bottom corner.
Bamba was booked for protesting while Warnock was spoken to by referee Oliver Langford after he lost his cool on the touchline.
Moments later it could have been 2-0 but Maguire’s header from a cross by Barkhuizen was too close to Etheridge, who made a easy save.
Safe
Early in the second half Etheridge came to Cardiff ’s rescue when he saved a shot from marauding full-back Darnell Fisher.
And Barkhuizen should have made it 2-0 when he rose at the far post to meet a cross by Hugill but his header went just wide.
But there was no denying the hosts, who doubled their lead with 19 minutes remaining.
Barkhuizen’s misdirected shot found Maguire and he beat Etheridge at his near post for his second goal in four days after he netted against Barnsley on Saturday.
And Alan Browne made the points safe for Alex Neil’s men after 78 minutes with Preston’s third when he saw Etheridge off his line and lobbed him from 40 yards. SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY came from behind to maintain their strong start to the season.
Brentford took a deserved lead on 10 minutes when Nico Yannaris’ left-foot volley from Gary Hooper’s headed clearance was parried into the goal by Wednesday keeper Keiren Westwood.
Ross Wallace almost levelled immediately but his stinging shot was well saved by Bees keeper Daniel Bentley.
The visitors had several chances to double their lead with centre forward Neal Maupay proving a threat.
But Brentford paid for their wastefulness when Hooper equalised just on half-time after Yohann Bardet cleared his initial shot onto the post and back into the striker’s path.
Wednesday improved after the break and they won it when sub Jordan Rhodes’ header was stabbed home by Wallace on 70 minutes.