[themaclad]

Cardiff City
Deepdale 8/4/2025 1945hrs

Last night home game of the season, thank goodness

MANAGER



https://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/

Last time out





FORM GUIDE

PNE 6 CARDIFF 8

Both sides need to win, last time Cardiff were in the area they beat Blackburn which does earn them a few brownie points

The Fitness Test

Andrew Hughes missed the weekend’s draw against Stoke City with a hernia injury but Paul Heckingbottom plans on using him between now and the end of the season.

The manager is less hopeful of being able to call upon Ali McCann before the campaign’s end, though, as well as Freddie Woodman and Jack Whatmough.

Brad Potts, who has missed the last three league matches with a hamstring injury, is the only player who may be able to return prior to the final day.

The Bluebirds

Similar to last weekend’s opponents, Cardiff City arrive at Deepdale battling for their Championship status.

The Bluebirds currently sit 22nd in the table and will be desperate to avoid becoming a third tier side for the first time since 2003, and five points from their last three matches have boosted their survival hopes.

Former North End forward Callum Robinson has been their star man this season, scoring 12 league goals, with their second-highest scorer sitting on five.

The Officials

Referee: David Webb
Assistant Referees: Andrew Fox and George Byrne
Fourth Official: Anthony Backhouse

A regular official of North End over the years, David Webb will take charge of Tuesday’s match.

The last time he refereed a PNE fixture was the 1-1 home draw against Derby County in November.

In total this season, Webb has shown 64 yellow cards in 27 matches.

Other Champo stuff




MACS VIEW

So near to the 50 point mark you can almost smell the Ambre Solaire in the players wash bags, still a bit of work to do, chance of a rare double, depends who is fit as we seem to be limited in options.

[themaclad]

Preston North End 2 Osmaji, Thordarson Cardiff City 2 Alves, Meite

Referee: Mr D Webb.

Attendance: 13,293 (443 Cardiff City fans)

Odd one this not quite sure whether we deserved to win, however one thing is certain, you don't leave Meite three yards from goal without a defender being within, five yards from him in the 94th minute as he is not going to miss and he didn't given Cardiff heir second of the night which was enough to give them a point. Think that's five or six undefeated at Deepdale for them.
Decent easrly spring night, quite an entertaining goal, neither side passed the ball around in their penalty area from goal kicks so speed of play was quicker.
We had already had a gol disallowed before Os scored after a killer pass by Mads, in the inside right position when he received the pass Os does not miss.
Cardiff ad their best spell just bbefore the break a rocket of a shot by Colwell well saved by Cornell and Ashford fired wide from a Whiteman error just outside the box.


City brought on Alves at the break, made a massive difference to them, speedy direct and a handful, level jjust after te break following one of our corners, they broke down the left Alves easily beat Porteous during his slalom down the wing, but lucky with the shot took a slight deflecti which took it past Cornell
.
We struggled for the next 15 minutes to eep City out, Ashford again close to scoring, but we did start to regain control, then a bit of Scandinavian innput gave us the lead, Riis initially did well to get the ball to Mads, chipped ball into the danger zone Thor heads home.
Greenwood shot narrowly wide although can be argued he had players in better positions, Riis and Mads combined well however Mads shot over.
Then came our inability to manage the game out, still could have won late on, Riiis shot saved from the rebound Whiteman headed over probablt should have scored.
Ah well move on Marching altogther on Saturday, who will be falling apart though?

HECK

Paul Heckingbottom felt his side paid the price for not making the most of their chances to extend their advantage in the 2-2 draw against Cardiff City.

It looked as though North End had done enough to beat their opponents from South Wales courtesy of goals from Milutin Osmajić and Stefán Thórdarson.

The final stages appeared comfortable until the fourth minute of stoppage-time when Yakou Méïté converted from close range.

Hecky said: “We're all down because we felt like we'd got the three points. It is a sucker punch but we switched off for that one moment.

“I felt comfortable in where we were and how we were seeing the game out. We're really disappointed to only take a point today after a really strong performance.

“We created lots of chances. We were good in lots of elements and unlucky when they equalised, it was a big deflection. We responded really well and scored a really good second goal and had chances, but we never got that second goal to take the fight out of Cardiff. When you're creating chances and missing them, it gives them that little bit more belief. We certainly needed either the second goal at 2-0 or the second goal to make it 3-1.”

It's not the first time this season that the North End boss has been happy enough with his side’s performance but frustrated to have to settle for a point.

In Saturday’s draw against Stoke City, he was disappointed with the display, but against the Bluebirds he felt his team did enough albeit without being able to extend their lead.

He said: “We haven't done enough because we’ve not won. It's just reinforcing everything I think about how we've produced a lot of consistent performances, where we've been good.

“We’ve either not created enough chances for the dominance we've had or we've created chances and not taken them. It puts pressure on us.

“As much as I'm saying we switched off for that goal, the game could have and should have been out of sight at the other end. It's just reinforcing everything that I’ve spoken about a lot.

“So many good things. So many really consistent things we've seen throughout the season. But the consistent blemish, if you like, is the fact that we don't turn dominance into wins often enough.”

OMER

Omer Riza spoke to the press following our 2-2 draw against Preston North End on Tuesday evening.
The Bluebirds claimed a point late on following a dramatic equaliser from Yakou Méïté.

“It was difficult," Omer began. "We weren’t good enough in the first half. We were off the pace, didn’t cover space or press, which was disappointing.

“We wanted to try and match them up today because we know their threats going forward with their pace and with their aerial threat. We didn’t deal with that.

“In the second half, we addressed it, we made the changes we needed to in order to liven it up and I thought my players showed fight, which is really important.

“We worked really hard in the second half. With the substitutes that came on and made an impact, and the players that finished the game, we have to take that point and it’s an important one."

Omer Riza
City's substitutes made an impact, with Will Alves scoring within minutes of being introduced, along with Méïté's late leveller.

Omer continued: “I keep speaking with Will and I want him to shoot more. I want him to create half-yard chances and get a shot off. That’s what he’s done today, he’s come inside, got half a yard and struck it, it’s gone in that near post.

"That’s brilliant for him. He’s a talent, that’s why I’ve brought him into the Club, he’s exciting and I’m glad he’s managed to do that today.

"The same for Yak when he’s come on, another really important goal and like I say, we are fighting, we’ll keep fighting and the boys showed that today out on the grass."

Omer Riza
Attention now turns to Saturday's home clash with Stoke City, as the Bluebirds welcome the Potters to Cardiff City Stadium.

“Of course we have belief," Omer added. "We are working our hardest to make sure we survive, it’s very important for the Club, for the fans and to us.

"I firmly believe that if we keep fighting together as a group, with our fans as well, we will achieve that."

[themaclad]