Snap-shot: The home win is still evading Cardiff, who were denied by an injury time equaliser to prevent Robbie Fowler's double from delivering three points.

Fowler's first goals for the club coupled with a resolute defensive performance and an outstanding individual performance from Joe Ledley still wasn't enough to earn the Bluebirds their first home win of the season. Fowler's brace was matched by the Lilywhite's Callum Davidson who grabbed two of his own, both fine strikes from distance which earned Preston a valuable away point that they scarcely deserved.

Davidson's second was a superbly sweet shot drilled wide of Michael Oakes' right hand following a cleverly worked free-kick, it was a quality goal worthy enough of earning a point even if Cardiff's overall dominance and flowing football looked set to guarantee all three.

Team News: Two changes to personnel were made to the starting eleven from Wednesday night. At the back we welcomed Michael Oakes for his first league appearance - Oakes coming in for Ross Turnbull who was given a rest on the bench. Joe Ledley also came back into Dave's eleven, taking up a spot on the left of midfield; a move changing City's formation slightly, with Joe in midfield and Trevor Sinclair dropping back to right-back behind Paul Parry.

Cardiff: Oakes, Sinclair, McNaughton, Johnson, Capaldi, Parry, Rae, McPhail ©, Ledley, Fowler, Hasselbaink. Subs: Turnbull, Whittingham, Thompson, Blake, Gunter.

Preston: Longergan, Davidson, Mawene, Sedgewick, Agyemang, Gallagher, Carter, Chilvers, Hill, Jones, Nicholls ©.

Chronological Report: The opening minutes were pretty tame, with Preston looking to give Agyemang another chance to have a blinder against us. The first shot on goal however came from strike-partner Paul Gallagher who after three minutes cut inside and sent a shot narrowly over the bar from twenty five yards.

Two minutes later Cardiff came close to grabbing an early opener through a corner. The ball was sent in form the left by Paul Parry, Johnson climbed highest and connected with a powerful header towards toe top right corner, but on the line to clear was Callum Davidson.

Mawene was the first to see his name in referee Hall's book after twelve minutes in following his rash challenge on Joe Ledley. The resulting corner was delivered well enough from McPhail on the left, but up came Lonergan to confidently collect.

Two minutes later Lonergan pulled off a fantastic save, denying Joe Ledley a definite headed opener from close range - the PNE keepr diving with style to palm out after Ledley was presented via a brilliant back to front move from Hasselbaink and Parry, who crossed from the right.

We waited twenty minutes to see the ball reach the back of the net - and when it did the only involvement was for the referee to book Davidson for ignoring the whistle after continuing from a clear off-side

If ever a moment was needed to highlight the laughable nature of the rule forcing players to leave the field after a knock, it came after twenty two minutes. Both McNaughton and Johnson had taken knocks to the head in the City area (Preston playing on regardless), our visitors won a corner for their efforts, leaving both centre-backs forced to leave the field - FOR A CORNER! Needless to say the referee saved himself from Dave's wrath as the corner was cleared.

Cardiff were certainly more of a forward threat than their guests, shown after twenty minutes as Joe Ledley set the ball to Jimmy, who's shot rebounded off a Preston body.

A minute later however City managed to finally find a home league goal to calm the masses -and of course it had to come from Robbie Fowler. City again were threatening going forward on the right, culminating in Joe Ledley sending over a great cross for Robbie to attack. He did so by evading the PNE back-line and sent the ball into the net to send the home support wild.

GOAL: CARDIFF 1 - 0 PRESTON. Fowler. 27 mins.

The goal was pretty much value for effort as Preston found it difficult to get forward. Five minutes after conceding they did fire forward, forcing Michael Oakes into an impressive save to deny Sedgewick's dangerous ball in.

The half continued with City doing more than their guests, though the chances were found a little more wanting. Rae came closest as his chip almost dipped in, giving Lonergan something to worry about. The only other major event was Chilvers seeing yellow for his continued offences, the last straw coming after forty minutes as he fouled Joe Ledley on the left.

HALF TIME: CARDIFF 1 - 0 PRESTON

Cardiff made a change at half time, introducing Chris Gunter for Paul Parry - the move coming as Paul felt he had a tight hamstring. Gunter took up a place as right back, freeing Sinclair to revert back to his favoured spot in midfield.

Preston came out from the off, winning an immediate corner, which was followed by Gavin Rae committing hand-ball just outside the area as the ball was cleared. Darren Carter took the kick which cannoned off the City wall; namely Stephen McPhail's face.

Preston were a lot more involved in the opening exchanges, and took their reward only five minutes in as McPhail's clearance came out to Callum Davidson who smashed a low drive through the mix and into the bottom right corner past a sprawled Oakes.

GOAL: CARDIFF 1 - 1 PRESTON. Davidson. 50 mins

Cardiff rallied after conceding, notably through Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink who looked fired up in search of City's first home win. His runs and attempted shots were well received by the home support, though no way through could be found as Preston blocked every chance.

Fifty six minutes saw Agyemang's involvement come to an end as he left the park in the wake of Karl Hawley.

Three minutes later City took the lead from a corner - Fowler again ghosting across the back line and in front of his markers before connecting with a darting header that rebounded off the turf, spewing into the back of the net.

GOAL: CARDIFF 2 - 1 PRESTON. Fowler. 59 mins

The temperature inside Ninian definitely turned up a notch after the goal. City's confidence was certainly improved, while Preston to their credit were throwing everything forward, looking dangerous when they did.

Cardiff came close to making it three after sixty six minutes via a great move on the right from Chris Gunter. Chris checked and tricked his marker before skipping forward and sending in a great ball for Joe Ledley to aim for. And Joe did just that, leaping between the PNE back line and connecting with the ball with a header that went wide - Joe clattered for his efforts and needing further attention before resuming.

A late goal looked likely, though we didn't know where from as the tension was apparent as the clock ticked on. Changes were made on both sides, with Mellor coming on for Gallagher, Sinclair being replaced by Whittingham and Thompson being given another chance from the bench, replacing Robbie Fowler. Fowler of course received a great ovation on his leaving the field; and fair enough following what was an impressive showing.

Play was evenly distributed. Leaving enough of a sense of hope and dread as is accustomed at Ninian Park. Cardiff came close to a third with seven of the minutes remaining through Whittingham's low shot from the left, forcing Lonergan to tip the ball around for a corner.

Preston were doing all they could to find a way back - to their credit finding an equaliser a minute into injury time as McPhail's challenge on Darren Carter won a free kick twenty five yards out. The resulting ball was a clear training ground move that saw the ball fed to Callum Davidson, who smashed the ball through and into the net like a rocket.

GOAL: CARDIFF 2 -2 PRESTON

Preston were of course delirious with their goal, but the mood was quickly more sombre as Roger Johnson was in serious trouble as he aimed to prevent the Preston goal. Johnson was down for a good few minutes needing attention, ending as he was carefully taken off the field on a stretcher.

With all of our substitutions made, we were forced to end the match with ten men; the final moments largely played in our half before referee Hall called time. We left disappointed in the late goal preventing a much Cardiff win, although our thoughts on the final whistle were more focussed on Johnson's health. At least the run of home league losses had come to an end, but it still left a bad taste in the mouth.

FULL TIME: CARDIFF 2 - 2 PRESTON