Preston North End slipped to a narrow 1-0 defeat at the hands of Cardiff City despite another spirited performance.

A stunning second half strike from Chris Burke was enough to win it for the home side. There wasn't anything Andy Lonergan could do as the midfielder's 54th minute shot flew into the top corner.

The Lilywhites battled until the end in what was a great team performance that ended with an undeserved defeat. Jon Parkin had the best chance for Preston when Kevin McNaughton cleared his header off the line.

There were four changes for Preston to the team that drew 1-1 with Blackpool on Monday night. Stephen Elliott and Jon Parkin came in for Neil Mellor and Chris Brown in a more familiar 4-4-2 formation. Eddie Nolan made way for Liam Chilvers and Chris Sedgwick dropped to the bench, allowing Paul Parry the chance to play against his former club.

Cardiff boss Dave Jones started with Joe Ledley in midfield after he passed a late fitness test. The in-form Peter Whittingham also started along with Michael Chopra as the Bluebirds looked to avenge last season's 6-0 defeat at Deepdale and end a run of form which has seen them lose the last three games.

North End kicked off the match, and immediately looked to release Ross Wallace and Parry down the wings, but David Marshall collected the first cross of the game from under Parkin's nose in the second minute.

It was the home side who had the first chance of the match, when Burke found himself in some space inside the box and played it to Ricky Scimeca whose shot sailed over the bar.

Less than a minute later the Bluebirds' dangerman, Michael Chopra had his first real chance, receiving the ball from Bothroyd on the edge of the box. The striker hadn't quite found his shooting boots though, and Lonergan watched it whizz past his left hand post.

That seemed to be just the wake up call the Lilywhites needed, and it was through Parkin that they almost broke the deadlock. In the 14th minute the striker was alert to a loose pass by Joe Ledley, and did brilliantly to get a right footed shot away that was tipped over by Marshall for a PNE corner.

Just when it seemed Alan Irvine's side couldn't get any closer to scoring, they had a goal disallowed by the referee. Neil Collins was the man who had the ball in the net following a Wallace corner, but he was adjudged to have fouled a Cardiff defender in doing so.

Cardiff were still in it too, although they weren't creating much, thanks in part to some good defending from Parkin on 24 minutes. Kevin McNaughton swung the ball in from the left into a crowded box, but Parkin showed fantastic strength to get the ball clear first and clear the danger.

With no side looking too likely to break the deadlock any time soon, Ross Wallace and Michael Tonge tried a free kick routine straight from the training ground at the half hour mark. The crowd expected Wallace to shoot, but he put Michael Tonge in down the right hand side instead. The midfielder's far post cross almost found three North End players, however the outstreched hands of Marshall came to Cardiff's rescue as he collected the ball well.

In the 36th minute Preston almost made the breakthrough via a powerful strike from Richard Chaplow. Wallace's trademark run down the left had won a throw deep in the Cardiff half, which resulted in Chaplow finding the ball at his feet in the box. His shot was low and hard, and the ball looped up in the air after the keeper managed to get something on it, but unfortunately it didn't fall to a red shirt.

Cardiff then broke immediately and had their best chance of the match. Chopra found himself in acres of space on the right hand side of the box and set himself to up to shoot, but Callum Davidson pressured him just enough for him to scuff his shot into the grateful arms of Lonergan.

It was Jon Parkin who started and almost finished the first move of the second half, just one minute in. The striker produced an good turn to beat two Cardiff defenders, then had a shot deflected out for a corner. Wallace took the corner which was met brilliantly by Parkin whose flicked his accross the face of the goal, but Kevin McNaughton was on hand to clear crucially off the line and deny Preston the lead.

Despite Preston's good work, they were unable to prevent Cardiff taking the lead in spectacular fashion. Chris Burke was the man who put them ahead with a great left foot strike from outside the box. He picked up the ball in the Preston half on 55 minutes and found Lonergan's top left corner with his shot.

Lonergan could do nothing about the opener, but he was able to do something about Cardiff's next chance two minutes later. Jay Bothroyd got in the way of a Neil Collins clearence and found himself one-on-one with the North End keeper. Lonergan refused to be beaten easily though, and produced a splendid save down low to keep the Lilywhites well and truly in it at that point.

Alan Irvine responded with a triple substitution in the 68th minute, Chris Sedgwick, Chris Brown, and Neil Mellor all entered into the fray in place of Parry, Parkin, and Elliott.

Following these changes, Preston were working hard for the equaliser, but all the chances seemed to be falling to Cardiff. In the 80th minute Jay Bothroyd;s angled shot was blocked very well by Neil Collins six yards out. The danger wasn't cleared or long though, as Paul Quinn reacted first to a cross and looked certain to score, thankfully Richard Chaplow was the man on the post, clearing off the line for North End.

The last ten minutes were agonising for Preston, as they were pushing desparately for a goal. Brown had a half chance in the 83rd minute, meeting a Sedgwick header, but got coudn't direct it the right side of the crossbar.

Nevertheless, it wasn't meant to be and North End left Cardiff City empty handed despite another hard fought performance.