A Jon Parkin brace helped ten men Preston to a hard fought 3-0 victory over Cardiff City at Deepdale.

Parkin opened the scoring from the spot in the 30th minute following an off the ball incident between Ross Wallace and Paul Quinn. However, North End found themselves a man light after the interval when Paul Coutts received his second yellow card of the game.

Immediately after this though Parkin scored his second before his replacement Chris Brown made it three inside the last five minutes, ensuring the Lilywhites' spirited performance was rewarded with three points.

Darren Ferguson made two changes to the starting line-up with Keith Treacy replacing Chris Sedgwick and Neil Mellor coming in up front for the injured Danny Welbeck.

It was a cagey start to the game with both sides unable to test either goalkeeper in the opening exchanges. Wallace did have the first effort in the opening few minutes but his shot was smashed over the crossbar.

In the 15th minute it was to the other wing where Treacy had a glorious chance to open the scoring. A neat interchange of passing between Mellor and Parkin created space for Treacy on the right hand side, but his right footed drive whistled past Peter Enckleman's far post.

Mellor and Wallace continued to pose a threat but the Lilywhites were given the lead in bizarre circumstances. A Preston move had broken down and Enckleman got the game back under way but an off the ball incident gave Ferguson's men a penalty.

The assistant referee spotted Cardiff defender Quinn push Wallace in the back and after deliberation with his assistant, the referee pointed to the spot. After a slight delay, Parkin stepped up and slotted home the penalty, sending Enckleman the wrong way.

Preston were rewarded with this goal in a game which they had started solidly in and following Parkin's penalty, North End continued to probe the visitors backline.

Ferguson's men continued to play some neat passes in the middle of the park and were keeping possession expertly. This ball retention again led to another great chance but Mellor was denied a goal on his return to the starting line-up. Patient build up led to Wallace's teasing pass across the face of the goal being turned in by Mellor but his joy was short-lived as the striker was flagged offside.

There were some nervy moments towards the end of the half when Jay Bothroyd's driven effort was palmed away well by Andy Lonergan and Peter Whittingham's free kick was struck over the crossbar. Nevertheless, a buoyant North End saw the half out well and went into the break one nil up.

The second half started with a change for the Bluebirds with Mark Kennedy coming in at the back for Gabor Gyepes. This wasn't the only change of personnel though as North End were soon down to ten men after an innocuous challenge. In the 53rd minute Coutts, who had already received a yellow card in the first half received his second yellow and was subsequently given his marching orders.

A huge crack in the North End midfield was soon glossed over by a piece of magic by the man up front who is currently in a rich vein of form.

Almost immediately after Coutts' dismissal, Parkin received the ball on the edge of City's penalty area from a Sean St.Ledger flick on and the striker chested the ball, swiveled on the spot and drilled the ball across Enckleman and into the bottom corner. A player deficit was now forgotten as Parkin's second gave the Lilywhites a two goal lead and a bit of daylight between the sides.

Two minutes after this goal, Ferguson shuffled his pack and brought on Chris Sedgwick and Darren Carter on for Treacy and Mellor.

Minutes after this change, Parkin came agonisingly close to completing his hat trick but the Beast was just denied by the woodwork. Parkin burst through the middle, skipped the challenges and beat the advancing Enckleman, however Parkin's shot was blocked, looped into the air evading everyone but the ball struck the post.

The ten men of Preston were up against it in the middle part of the second half and Cardiff were denied their opening goal in the 64th minute after a top class save from Lonergan. It was McCormack's header that was saved expertly by the feet of Lonergan and this signified the start of a battle which North End were to endure.

Preston made their third and final change of the afternoon in the 82nd minute as Parkin made way for Brown. Parkin had epitomised Preston's performance with his work rate and quality on the ball and the North End fans showed their appreciation for the striker as he was being replaced.

Brown almost started where Parkin left off as he met Wallace's corner within a minute of being on the field but Brown's header just bounced wide of the goal.

The striker didn't have to wait long though before he had another chance to get his name on the scoresheet and Brown did it in some style. It was a moment to forget for Enckleman and one to remember for Brown after the goalkeeper scuffed his clearance on the byline with the ball falling kindly to Brown. There was still some work to do though and Brown composed himself and delicately floated the ball over Enckleman and into the far corner.

This goal had put the game out of sight and Deepdale was well and truly rocking. Not contempt at just a victory, Lonergan again denied Cardiff with another top class save. The ball was played in behind the Lilywhites defense for Bothroyd who was one-on-one with Lonergan but Preston's number one imposed himself well and tipped Bothroyd's shot wide of the goal and out of danger.

This capped off a fine individual performance by Lonergan and a superb collective performance by Preston North End.