CARDIFF LEFT TO RUE MISSED OPPORTUNITY
CARDIFF City missed the opportunity to record a third win on the bounce after being held to a drab 0-0 stalemate at the hands of Preston North End.
Having recorded impressive victories over Derby County and QPR, Cardiff laboured to muster any real opportunities in the final third on until the final 10 minutes here in what was a largely uneventful affair, with Uche Ikpeazu twice denied by Daniel Iversen in the Preston goal.
Jordan Hugill did volley home in the final minute of added time, only for it to be chalked off for a foul in the build-up.
Preston had their chances too, with Cameron Archer and Daniel Johnson forcing good saves from Alex Smithies, while Alan Browne somehow skewed a rebound wide from close range, on a day of precious little quality in front of either goal.
Steve Morison stressed the importance of his side maintaining their levels of intensity between and the end of the season this week, and opted for just two changes from the win at Loftus Road.
Rubin Colwill’s reward for his stunning freekick was a place on the bench, with fellow starlet Isaak
Davies drafted in, while Will Vaulks made way for the returning Tommy Doyle.
Cody Drameh nearly pounced on a wayward pass from Preston goalkeeper Daniel Iversen, but was denied by Liam Lindsay’s last-ditch block before giving away foul.
Rob Page’s Wales are set to come rolling into town before the end of the month, and Cardiff youngster Davies has been heavily-tipped for a place in the squad, which is announced next week, on the back of a strong run of form.
Davies, should have strengthened his case just before the 20-minute mark, but couldn’t connect with Hugill’s ball towards the far-post, which arrived on the back of a counter-attacking move that was arguably the only moment of real quality in the opening half.
Cardiff’s inability to trouble Iversen in the Preston goal allowed the visitors back in the game, and they were perhaps a little unlucky not to be awarded a penalty after Mark
McGuinness seemingly hauled down Emil Riis Jakobsen in the box.
Brad Potts then let fly inside the box with a drive so tame it was barely worth a mention, while Alfie Doughty did his best to produce something of note for the highlights reel with a cross-turned-shot just before the break that was easily gathered by Iversen.
Hugill then had an effort well blocked inside the area, before Doughty then put Doyle’s deep cross into orbit on the stroke of half-time.
Chances weren’t any more forthcoming in the opening exchanges of the second half, with both sides guilty of sloppiness in the final third.
Cameron Archer, whom Morison admitted was a January target for the Bluebirds, showed a brief insight into his capabilities with a superb run at the City defence, but saw an angled shot blocked by Perry Ng.
Preston then created what was arguably the best chance of the game 15 minutes from time.
A deft touch from Daniel Johnson brought the ball past Ralls and McGuinness, before the low finish was kept out by the leg of Smithies, who had to be similarly alert to gather Archer’s deflected ball across goal just moments later.
That flurry from the visitors seemed to spark Cardiff into life as the game reached its climax, with Ikpeazu twice denied by a couple of brilliant saves from Iversen from distance.