By Will Gregory
CARDIFF City and Preston North End fought out a tense 0-0 draw which will not be long remembered by either set of supporters.
The Bluebirds started the game on the front foot as defender Perry Ng struck a cross into the area that just missed midfielder Tommy Doyle.
But it was a long time until another Cardiff chance came to fruition as Preston’s high pressing football – the Deepdale club still have an outside chance of making the play-offs – made it difficult for the hosts to even get out of their own half.
Jordan Hugill threatened at times for Cardiff while Preston’s Andrew Hughes also created chances.
Yet neither side really managed to craft gilt-edged opportunities up until half-time, with notable moments hard to come by.
The second half started off very much like the first with Cardiff winning set-pieces from half-chances, but Ryan Lowe’s visitors looked the sharper of the two teams.
During one swarm of Preston attacks, the Bluebirds defence remained defiant, with Mark McGuinness being able to block two Brad Potts attempts to defuse any goalscoring opportunity.
Not long after, striker Cameron Archer used his pace to beat his man before just rippling the side netting.
And when City’s defence were eventually beaten when playmaker Johnson went through on goal, goalkeeper Alex Smithies heroically put his foot in the way to deny Preston the lead.
Only moments had passed when Cardiff answered back with their own goal scoring chance, substitute Uche Ikpeazu forcing a great save out of Daniel Iversen with a shot that looked destined for the back of the net.
Cardiff thought they had made the breakthrough right at the death when Hugill hit the back of the net before the referee blew his whistle for a foul committed by Ikpeazu.
Substitute Ikpeazu was the stand out player for Cardiff, causing a lot of trouble in the final third and being really unlucky not to grab himself a goal.
Playmaker Johnson was the pick of the Preston players.