Blankety blank for Woody
IT is now nine hours and counting for Freddie Woodman and his defensive team at Preston in keeping the ball out of the net.
The goalless draw at Cardiff City Stadium made it six games without defeat for the Lillywhites this season despite having to defend 21 shots from the dominant home side.
Another clean sheet for new goalkeeping recruit Woodman allowed his side to become the first team in the English league system to do that at the start of a season since Chelsea in 2005-06 – and the first in the second tier since Oldham in 1986-87.
But while they escaped the Welsh capital with a point, Preston boss Ryan Lowe wasn’t a happy man.
“We were second best all over the park and I’m disappointed in the performance,” said Lowe.
“Cardiff were outstanding and deserve a lot of credit.
“I’m pleased we kept another clean sheet and got a point on the road, but I’m disappointed we didn’t win and we didn’t perform – it wasn’t good enough.”
Both sides hit the post, Cardiff skipper Joe Ralls hammering a shot from the edge of the area against Woodman’s right-hand post.
Then Cedric Kipre headed a cross onto his own post and was delighted to see the ball rebound off his keeper Ryan Allsop’s knees.
Bluebirds boss Steve Morison said: “It was an excellent performance, we just didn’t cap it off with a goal. They defended their box really well.”
CARDIFF: Allsop 6; Romeo 7, Ng 7, Kipré 6, Ralls 8 (Rinomhota (69) 5) 8; Wintle 7, Colwill 7 (Ojo (88) 5); O’Dowda 6 (Nkounkou (46) 6), Sawyers 6 (Whyte (90) 5),
Philogene 7 (Harris (69) 5); Watters 7 PRESTON: Woodman 6; Storey 6, Lindsay 7, Cunningham 7; Whiteman 7; Potts, Ledson 6 (Woodburn (62) 5), Browne 7 (McCann (62) 5), Brady 7; Johnson 5 (Riis (35) 6), Parrott 7 (Evans (78) 5)
STAR MAN: Ben Whiteman – Put his body on the line in another extraordinary defensive effort.
REF: Andy Woolmer 8