Honours Even at Deepdale

Scores
By Chris O'Brien
April 24 2004

The Bluebirds came from two goals behind to draw 2-2 with Preston North End at Deepdale. A stunning goal from Andy Campbell and a header from Daniel Gabbidon secured the visitors a point against the Lancastrian side.

Cardiff City came from two goals behind to claim a point a Deepdale, with the 2-2 scoreline the same result from when the two sides met at Ninian Park earlier on in the season.

A stunning strike from Andy Campbell on 51 minutes closely followed by a header five minutes later from Welsh international Daniel Gabbidon secured the comeback for the Bluebirds, after Eddie Lewis and Paul McKenna had given the hosts a 2-goal lead with strikers in each half.

Preston started the better side with Martyn Margetson called into action early on with McKenna and Graham Alexander both going close after Richard Langley had called North End 'keeper Jonathan Gould into action with a sweeping free-kick. However, Margetson could do little about Eddie Lewis' well-taken goal on the quarter-hour mark. The American international linked up well with the highly-rated Ricardo Fuller, before powering a left-footed drive past the City 'keeper.

Cardiff gradually got themselves into the game with John Robinson and Andy Campbell both having opportunities, but it was Lewis again who had the best opportunity to give the game a second goal before the interval. His powerful effort bounced back of the woodwork as the first-period drew to a close.

Preston had an excellent start to the second-period with McKenna scoring an excellent goal to the double the advantage held by the Lancastrian outfit. The Chorley-born midfielder picked up the ball on the half-way line and went on a mazy run as the baffled Cardiff defence continued to back off and back off, and McKenna took full advantage of the poor defending to send an unstoppable lightning strike past Margetson.

Cardiff didn't roll over though, and were back in the game only minutes later through Andy Campbell. The play-off hero, fresh from his 15-minute wonder spell as substitute last week against Burnley, hit a superb shot from 30-yards out which left Gould with no chance in the Preston goal. It was a fantastic goal and further stakes Campbell's place for a regular place in the team should Robert Earnshaw depart the club over the summer.

City started to play with some momentum and on 56 minutes were on level terms with a rare goal from centre-half Daniel Gabbidon to the delight of our travelling band of supporters. The former West Bromwich Albion defender latched onto a cross from London-born Jamaican international Richard Langley to head a neat effort past Gould.

North End finished the stronger of the sides and could have snatched a dramatic winner when Chris Lucketti's header hit the post, but City held on for a battling point. The result means the play-offs are now a mathematical impossibility for Lennie Lawrence's side, but if we're all honest, chances of a place in the top six died a while back. The point keeps Cardiff in 11th, and a win over lowly Wimbledon next Saturday will secure a top-half finish for the First Division new-boys. As for Preston, the result sees them stay 14th and a place in the top-half is not unlikely.

Full Time - Preston North End 2-2 Cardiff City
Attendance - 11,972