Cardiff 4-1 Preston (report)

Cardiff City won a thrilling game by 4 goals to 1 against promotion rivals Preston North End.

The first half saw Preston gain control as the half went on but it was the home side who took the lead shortly before the intervalslightly against the run of play. Paul Parry's ball into the box was kept down expertly by PETER WHITTINGHAM who volleyed home with a hooked right foot shot.

A frantic second half saw Cardiff extend their lead after MICHAEL CHOPRA was tripped in the box and converted for his 21st goal. Preston however won a penalty of their own within a minute of going down, a hopeful ball saw Neil Mellor and Roger Johnson clash on the edge of the box and Graham Alexander cooly slotted home to keep Preston in the game.

Cardiff then extended their lead with the third goal in 3 minutes. Whittingham's curling free-kick reached the far post and ROGER JOHNSON stooped to head powerfully home for his first goal for the club.

The game was wrapped up on 67 minutes when Whittingham dancied cleverly around his fullback and cut back to the waiting MICHAEL CHOPRA for an easy finish.


It was end-to-end stuff and Cardiff were flattered slightly by the result. The Bluebirds did deserve to win however and leapfrogged their opponents to go temporarily fourth in the table and firmly back into the play-off pack.

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