[themaclad]

With the international break over it's time for real football to return, the Bluebirds make their first visit since they relegated us with a 1-0 four years ago which was a rare victory at Deepdale. Over the years they have had some real hammerings at Preston 9-0, 5-0 and a 6-0 battering about 10 years ago which included possibly the best own goal of all time when Mark Kennedy majestically headed past his own keeper.
Since then the Bluebirds have had a slightly roller coaster existence mainly down to the eccentric Mr Tan, who allienated the fans by changing the colour of the home shirt from blue to red although they are back to blue again. They have had a spell well ene season in the top division certainly were not disgraced and are now looking to get back under Russell Slade who appears to be doing a decent job at the moment whilst the club seems to have reached a period of stability.
Last time out drew 1 all at leaders Brighton with Joe Mason scoring an early goal, they still have Peter Whittingham playing for them always tends to do well against us.Up front Kenwynne Jones is always a physical presence, they have won at Forest on their travels but will be no push over.
McCarthy and Beckford still injured, Garner suspended with Doyle not able to play against his parent club means a probable forward line of May and Hugill, Gallagher will probably start for the first time in six weeks. Also Wright will now be free of suspension so will go straight back into the back line given that Huntington is still injured.
Will our forward line finally score a go this season, game 11 and all goals have come from midfield. Time to start winning some games in my view and also in the Owner's view who thinks we should finish mid table this year and go up next season so no pressure on Mr Grayson then.

[St Charles Owl]

I like Stevie May but we found ourselves questioning his ability to score with any regularity. We put it down to crap service but I am not so sure thats the problem. I think we played him out wide too often and too many times had him tracking back to either defend or retrieve the ball. He proved at St Johnstone that he knows where the net is, stick him up front, tell him to stay there and see if he can get behind the defence a few times!!

Failing all that, replace him with Garner next week!!!

[themaclad]

We will

[themaclad]

By the time we kick off we will be bottom due to Forest's inability to be a team which competes

[themaclad]

First the good news the point we got takes up to 22nd about Bolton and Rotherham, we also had a clean sheet, now the negatives the forwards still have not scored, May looks lost at the moment, injuries are starting to rack up Clarke going off could leave us with one fit centre back for Tuesday visit to fast faltering Charlton, Huntington struggling to regain full fitness along with Beckford and now Humphry is out for two months with a stress fracture of the shin.
To be honest in the end quite happy with a point given the injury to Clarke at the end.As for the game the first half can be described as exceedingly low key in fact the hour I spent on theM55 after the Wolves game provided more entertainment.
After a well respected minutes silence for ex players Thompson and Kendall the half never really got started, North End played some nice football but at pace which was way too slow and which allowed Cardiff plenty of time to get men behind the ball. North End had several corner but the City defence with Morrison outstanding made short shrift of anything the home attack produced which was little.
The chances when they came were down in the home goal area, Mason had a great chance in a three on one break but his control let him down with Pickford smothering the chance, he also had a good effort blocked by a wall of North End defenders, Ameobi also looked tricky although should realy have been booked for having a crap hair style.
At half time Cardiff brought on Noone and looked more of a threat down the wing, his cross set up a chance for Pilkington who headed wide, another cross set up a chance for Ameobi to score he put it over the top.
There was more attacking threat from North End as Clarke hit the top of the bar with a header but the home side wanted one too many touches on the ball which made it easier for Cardiff to defend.
A Whittingham free kick should have been nodded home by Morrison it went wide, his collison with Clarke also ended Clarke's participation in the game. Then possibly the best chance of the lot the obligatory free kick on the edge of the North End box. Wait for Whittingham to take it then wait for the celebration as the ball goes in, not this time his shot under the wall produced a fine save by Pickford.
Ameobi had a couple of chances to score but was to busy trying to beat the entire North End defence before shooting. As the game got towards the end North End picked up the pace should have scored when Johnson failed to hit the target and a Hugill header went narrowly wide. So 11 games without a forward scoring lowest goal scorers in the division but a clean sheet, take the positives onto the Valley on Tuesday.

Preston North End 0 Cardiff City 0 Att 11125


Preston North End manager Simon Grayson:

"We have to have a little bit more belief in the players in themselves, that they can express themselves more, take a little bit more care in that final third to try and take a better option and cause the opposition a few more problems.

"It could have gone either way but ultimately I'm pleased we've kept a clean sheet and got a point, which hopefully we can keep building on because there are no easy games in this division.

"We've got a good spirit about us that we're determined not to get beat if that's possible."

Cardiff City manager Russell Slade:

"It wasn't a great game or spectacle by either side in the first period and not a lot of opportunities, but that was in contrast to the second half.

"Even though mistakes were made, there were opportunities to be taken and we were looking to do that. We pushed forward.

"They put their bodies on the line. They threw everything at it. I think there were three blocks on the bounce at one stage in their box, so credit to them for defending as well."