Match Preview: Cardiff City (H)

9 March 2023

Preston North End will aim to follow up last weekend’s point away to Watford and extend their five-game unbeaten run when Cardiff City come to Deepdale this Saturday.

Match Information
Venue: Deepdale
Date: Saturday 11^th March, 3pm kick-off
Competition: Sky Bet Championship (Matchday 36/46)
Kit: Home kit – 30% off in-store and online!

Supporter Information

Tickets for this fixture will remain on sale right up until kick-off in person from the ticket office, while fans can also buy over the phone on 0344 856 1966 and online from www.mypne.com.

The Kop is also open to PNE supporters, and season card holders can swap their seat for this fixture by visiting or calling the ticket office, while non-season card holders can buy online.

Home supporters can visit the fan zone before and after the game this weekend, with doors open from 12 noon. There will be the usual selection of food and drink available, while live music will also be played prior to kick-off. Full details can be found in our Matchday Information article.

This fixture will be dedicated to the Her Game Too campaign and you can find out everything that's going on surrounding the campaign here.

How To Follow The Game

Supporters worldwide can listen to this game live on iFollow PNE, with Jonathan Breeze and David Buchanan on commentary duty. Subscribe to your match or monthly pass here!

This fixture has been selected for international coverage, therefore the game will be unavailable to watch on iFollow in the majority of regions worldwide. Supporters are advised to check their local TV listings to see if the game is being shown in their area.

There will also be the usual coverage across our social media channels before, during, and after the game.

Matchday Programme

Former Cardiff City defender Greg Cunningham is the cover star for this weekend's matchday programme, as the Bluebirds come to Deepdale.

North End's No.3 is the featured interview, discussing the team's recent run of form, his own performances, while reflecting on his decision to join the Welsh outfit back in 2018.

There's plenty more to read in The One And Only, and you can pick up a copy from around the ground for £3.50 on the day, or alternatively you can order an issue to be delivered to your home by clicking here.

In The Dressing Room

Andrew Hughes is back in training after missing the previous three matches through injury, and his fitness will be monitored prior to Saturday.

Aside from the long-term absentees, Ali McCann and Emil Riis, there are no fresh injury concerns to worry about heading into the weekend.

Daniel Johnson is set to play his 327th game in a Preston North End shirt, which will see him go joint-22nd in the club's all-time appearance list.

A Look At Our Visitors

Cardiff City are in their fourth consecutive Championship season, following relegation from the Premier League in the 2018/19 season.

Arriving at Deepdale with just six points separating them from a place in the relegation zone, Sabri Lamouchi’s side have no doubt taken confidence from their 2-0 Severnside derby victory over Bristol City last Saturday.

Despite the bragging rights and the all-important three points, they lost their starting ‘keeper Ryan Allsop due to a straight red card, meaning the Bluebirds will require Jak Alnwick’s help at Deepdale.

Going Head To Head

Games played: 100
PNE wins: 36
Draws: 25
Cardiff City wins: 39
Last victory: Cardiff City 0-1 PNE, 29th December 2017

One To Watch

Jaden Philogene has been a young talent proving his worth through Cardiff City’s tough season, since joining on loan from Premier League side Aston Villa in the summer.

The England youth international has already netted four goals in all competitions, with his most recent strike coming last weekend to clinch a 2-0 Championship victory over rivals Bristol City.

A 21-year-old winger, who can also operate in the midfield on either flank, Philogene possesses the turn of pace and chance creation which can keep any defence on their toes.

Match Officials

David Webb is the referee in charge of Saturday afternoon’s game, having overseen both sides on one previous occasion this season.

Webb gave five yellow cards and a penalty to the hosts when PNE beat Reading 2-1 away from home in November, while his Cardiff City game ended in a 1-0 victory to Hull City, despite the Bluebirds missing a crucial penalty.

In total this season, he has taken charge of 30 matches, showing 90 yellow cards and three reds.

Match Reports

Match Report: PNE 2 Cardiff City 0

11 March 2023

Preston North End extended their unbeaten run to six games with a win at Deepdale over Cardiff City, courtesy of goals from Tom Cannon and substitute Ched Evans.

Neither side were able to break the deadlock in the first half, despite a lengthy period of added time, but Bambo Diaby had PNE’s best chance while restricting Cardiff of any major attacking threat.

North End then entered the second period as the team on top, as Cannon in the 68^th minute scored in front of the Town End and Evans then converted in the fourth minute of added time, securing three points against the Bluebirds.

PNE made two changes to the side which took a point against Watford last Saturday, with Ben Woodburn and Cannon back into the starting XI, while skipper Alan Browne missed the game to be with his partner for the birth of their child.

The visitors created the first opportunity of the afternoon, as Jaden Philogene down the middle dinked a pass into the path of Kion Etete five minutes in, which required Freddie Woodman to rush out of his goal and injure himself in the process.

After a lengthy spell receiving treatment, the North End ‘keeper was okay to continue and Troy Parrott carved out a chance after 26 minutes – taking the ball from Daniel Johnson inside the area, wriggling free of a defender and firing powerfully into the hands of Jak Alnwick.

Cardiff attempted to bring some goal threat of their own, however, as Etete – outside the box – let off a thumping effort which flew wide of the left post on the 39-minute mark.

North End almost took advantage of the seven extra minutes, with Diaby coming closest to opening the scoring, by using his strength inside the danger zone and he poked a shot just wide to the left, which marked the end of the opening stage.

Determined to find the back of the net after the chances of the first half, Álvaro Fernández picked out Cannon in the 50th minute who, after patiently waiting, unleashed his shot into the hands of Alnwick.

At the other end, just seven minutes later, Woodman was called into action – Perry Ng with a free-kick from a dangerous area outside the box, requiring a diving save to his right.

He would repeat a similar feat after a further six minutes, when Sory Kaba let off an effort which seemed destined for the top-right corner, before the eventual man of the match tipped it away from danger.

As the 68^th minute approached, Cannon gave PNE the opener they were aiming for, by chesting down an aerial pass from Greg Cunningham on the left flank and slotting into the middle of goal from 12 yards.

The half was certainly the more eventful of the two and Brad Potts missed out on a chance to extend PNE’s lead four minutes later, after connecting his foot on the ball at the far post, from a curled free-kick which was taken from distance.

Things went from bad to worse for the visitors, as Alnwick sprinted out of his net and collided with a threatening Cannon outside the area, which resulted in a straight red card.

From the following free-kick, Ben Whiteman released a long-range effort and substitute ‘keeper Rohan Luthra could only parry his strike towards the feet of substitute Evans, who slotted home to confirm a 2-0 victory for his side in the fourth extra minute of the 90.

PNE line-up: Woodman; Storey, Diaby, Cunningham; Potts, Whiteman, Woodburn (Brady, 60), Johnson (Ledson, 82), Fernández (Onomah, 82); Parrott (Evans, 60) Cannon. Subs not used: Cornell, Bauer, Delap.

Cardiff City line-up: Alnwick; Ng, Kipré, McGuinness; Philogene, Wintle, Rinomhota (Harris, 72 (Luthra, 90+3)), Sawyers, O’Dowda; Etete, Kaba (Ojo, 64). Subs not used: Romeo, Sang, Colwill, Davies.

Attendance: 14,295 (648 Cardiff City fans).

Referee: Mr D Webb.

Ticket News

Join Us At Deepdale This Weekend For Visit Of Cardiff City

6 March 2023

Join us at Deepdale on Saturday 11th March as Preston North End take on Cardiff City at Deepdale in the Sky Bet Championship.

North End will take on the Bluebirds for a 3pm kick-off, and tickets remain on sale for this fixture online from www.mypne.com, in person from the ticket office and over the phone on 0344 856 1966.

PNE fans can also go in the Bill Shankly Kop for this fixture, with season card holders able to swap their usual seat by visiting or calling the ticket office, while non-season card holders can buy online.

Full details regarding what will be going on in and around Deepdale will be confirmed in our Matchday Information article prior to the weekend, but the fan zone will be open to home supporters and the matchday shuttle bus service will also be running.

Preston North End

Standings

Match Preview: Cardiff City (H)

Match Report: PNE 2 Cardiff City 0

Join Us At Deepdale This Weekend For Visit Of Cardiff City

Cardiff City Tickets On Sale

Standings

Ticket News

Cardiff City Tickets On Sale

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