REPORT: Preston NE vs Cardiff City

Result: Preston North End 0 Cardiff City 0

Game finishes goalless in dull affair

Preston North End and Cardiff City failed to break the deadlock in a relatively dull affair at Deepdale.

The game began quietly, with only Preston striker Jordan Hugill offering a tame effort to David Marshall's goal in the first 25 minutes.

Cardiff midfielder Joe Ralls then did well to find Joe Mason in space with a fantastic pass, but the frontman had a heavy touch and allowed Jordan Pickford to collect.

Hugill again threatened Marshall with a headed effort just under 10 minutes later, but Scotland international Marshall did well to get hold of the ball as both sides failed to break the deadlock before half time.

Into the second half, and Preston had an early penalty shout when Stevie May went down after a Sean Morrison challenge. Referee Stuart Atwell was quick to dismiss the calls, though.

The Bluebirds then had their own penalty shot when winger Craig Noone went down in the box, but Atwell denied again. Preston had an excellent chance to take the lead with just over 30 minutes remaining, but Tom Clarke could only watch as his header rattled the bar following a Paul Gallagher cross.

Peter Whittingham had an opportunity to score in the final 10 minutes, but Pickford was on hand to deny the veteran midfielder's free kick as the game finished goalless.

Simon Grayson Discusses Cardiff Point And Injury Set Backs
Posted: Sat 17 Oct 2015
Author: @pnefc
image: http://www.pnefc.net/cms_images/grayson ... 78x359.jpg


Manager Simon Grayson spoke to PNE Player after his side’s goalless draw at home to Cardiff City and revealed a number of injury concerns.
The North End boss lost skipper Tom Clarke during the second half and told the official online TV channel that the No.5 had suffered a shoulder injury, whilst Chris Humphrey – who missed the game – could be set for a long period on the sidelines.

“Tom has done something to his shoulder and with the quick turnaround for Tuesday night we will have to see where we are with that,” said the gaffer. “Having lost Paddy McCarthy a couple of weeks ago and Paul Huntington is just not quite ready yet, centre half is a position we are down to the bare bones.

“We have also lost Chris Humphrey for a period as well. He has seen a specialist about an injury that he has been playing through and it has revealed he has a stress fracture and will be out for two months, so it is disappointing news.

“These things happen, so we dig keep and keep on building. The good thing about today is that we kept a clean sheet and we got another point and that is a positive.”

Read more at http://www.pnefc.net/news/article/simon ... JZsvoWm.99