Match Day Thread Cardiff City v Preston North End Cardiff City Stadium 21/12/2019

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LAST TIME OUT

PRESTON NORTH END 2 LUTON TOWN 1

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LEEDS UNITED 3 CARDIFF CITY 3

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LAST MEETING

CARDIFF CITY 0 PRESTON NORTH END 1
Super Tommy Clarke cha

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Match Officials: Cardiff City Away
Jeremy is from Carnforth probably travelling down on the team coach

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For our final game before Christmas, we will be officiated by a match official we have not seen since the opening home game of the season.

This weekend’s live Sky Sports fixture against Neil Harris’ Cardiff City, will be refereed by Jeremy Simpson, who took charge of his seventh game at Deepdale when we beat Wigan Athletic 3-0 back in early August.

The match official actually took charge of our last competitive home game before that too, against Sheffield Wednesday, back in April, one of three games where he was in charge the Lilywhites in 2018/19.

The Carnforth referee also had the whistle for our 1-1 draw with Bristol City at Deepdale at the beginning of March and the October clash at home to Rotherham United.
Prior to that he had not refereed the Lilywhites since January 2018, when he was the match official for the draw at Millwall, his second North End game of 2017/18; the first being 1-0 home win over Queens Park Rangers in December 2017.
In 2016/17, the select group two match official took the game for our Boxing Day clash with Leeds United and the Lilywhites’ Roses victory over Huddersfield Town in October, as well as acting as fourth official at two home games.

He also was in charge when North End took on Stoke City at PR1 in pre-season that year, and is an experienced official, with plenty of Championship action under his belt.

This will be his 13th game of the season, having so far issued 42 cautions and four red cards, two coming in his last match – Swansea City’s 1-1 draw with Blackburn Rovers, where a player on each side was sent off.

This weekend he will be assisted by Michael George and Robert Hyde, whilst Sam Purkiss will be the fourth official.

Major signings

Glatzel and Flint at approxiamate tota of £9 million

Unusual with this fixture, it's the fourth time since the beginning of the century that it has been televised, we have won twice and City once, last time was just shy of two years ago when a late Tommy Clarke goal won the game which really did cheese off Colin at the time.
After relegation City have had an average start which in the end led to Colin leaving and being replaced by Neil Harris the ex Millwall boss, who has already got one over on us on the first day of the season when Millwall beat us.
A difficult game especially our inability to hit the net in recent away games were we have been poor, nice early kick off 12.30 which would mean a coach at 5 am for some for me it's television for this one.

 

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Cardiff City have failed in an appeal against Sean Morrison's sending off against Leeds.

The Bluebirds captain received a red card for a challenge on striker Eddie Nketiah in the closing stages of their dramatic 3-3 draw at Elland Road.

Manager Neil Harris hinted he would try and overturn the decision, claiming the foul was not dangerous.

But an FA panel agreed with referee Tony Harrington, resulting in the defender receiving a three-game ban.

It means the Championship side will be without Morrison for Saturday's visit of third-placed Preston, as well the Boxing Day home fixture with Millwall and the trip to Sheffield Wednesday three days later.

Cardiff could also be without fellow centre-back Aden Flint, with the club assessing the groin injury he picked up in the draw with Leeds.

If Flint is unavailable to face Preston, it could open the door for the return of Sol Bamba who is yet to figure under Harris and has made one substitute appearance this season since recovering from the serious knee injury he suffered in March.

 

Should have won that City created sod all Maguire missed three good chances Pearson outstanding

 

Preston were forced to settle for a share of the spoils despite a dominant display in the Welsh capital against Cardiff City.

The hosts failed to register a shot on target until stoppage time as Preston showed why they are looking like promotion contenders in this stalemate.

Midfielder Alan Browne missed the visitors' best opportunity.

The draw sees Cardiff move up to 11th while Preston remain third in the Championship.

Both sides made changes from their last contests ahead of the busy festive period, with Cardiff making five changes and Preston two.

Etheridge's splendid save
The headline news saw Jazz Richards make a first league start for the Bluebirds in 691 days as they looked to build on their stunning comeback which earned a draw against Leeds at Elland Road last time out.

However, while the Bluebirds' form since Neil Harris' appointment has been vastly improved, they have been a better second-half side than first, with sluggish starts a feature of this season.

This was certainly the case for the visit of Alex Neil's side who were unlucky not to lead at the interval after a first half in which they dominated for long spells and created far more scoring opportunities.

Welshman Billy Bodin sent a dipping effort just over the crossbar after seven minutes and also should have scored midway through the first half when Neil Etheridge's splendid point-blank save denied him the chance to score from the best opportunity of the contest.

Preston's high press and relentless work rate was forcing the Bluebirds onto the back foot and the visitors continued to press out of possession and look to win the ball in high areas, creating two opportunities for Sean Maguire, but he twice found the side-netting.

Cardiff seek inspiration
Maguire also flashed just wide on the stroke of half time, while Lee Tomlin's curling effort from 20-yards was Cardiff's only effort on goal before the break.

Preston were looking to improve their away form having won just one of their last five on the road and scoring a solitary goal in that time and they started the second half again on the front foot with Paul Gallagher curling inches wide.

Cardiff sent on Danny Ward and Gary Madine in search of inspiration, but none was forthcoming with Curtis Nelson conceding possession and Alan Browne fired tamely at Etheridge to hand the hosts a major reprieve with 20 minutes remaining.

Preston's lack of confidence in front of goal was clear to see and, despite a fine performance, they had to settle for point when Ben Pearson's drive was beaten clear by Etheridge in the closing stages, while Tomlin finally forced Declan Rudd into action, but he tipped over.

 

Should have won by all accounts. But at least stopped the away rot at the home of a decent club. Hopefully, same dominance against Leeds.