Peter Thorne’s last minute header rescued a point for Cardiff City after they had looked set to lose their second successive match at Ninian Park against Preston North End.
"Overall it was a fair result" said Preston manager Craig Brown "but we had won the game twice and threw it away both times. But credit to Cardiff for fighting back." Ricardo Fuller put Preston ahead in the 51st minute when he pounced after Neil Alexander had failed to hold a cross shot from Eddie Lewis.
The Bluebirds equalised against the run of play in the 63 rd minute when Richard Langley cut in from the right before firing a crisp shot past the diving Jonathan Gould in the Preston goal.
Slack defensive work again let the visitors in and Fuller caused problems down the line before sub David Healy was left to drive into the corner of the net and put Preston back in front in the 83rd minute.
Just as it seemed Brown's side would take all three points up popped Thorne to head in a cross from Chris Barker for the equaliser.
City's Welsh international centre back Daniel Gabbidon believes his side have to get back to doing the basics defensively.
"We will have to sort out the defence as we have given away too many goals lately after being really good earlier in the season. But, I am sure we only need a little fine tuning as we have played some good footballing teams, so you have to give them credit as well." City boss Lennie Lawrence felt that it needed Preston to score in order to spark his own side.
He said: “We were delighted to get that late equaliser but, overall, we certainly deserved to draw.
“I'm very pleased with how the season has gone so far but we are still giving the opposition too many scoring chances and we are far too vulnerable on the counter attack." Cardiff lost John Robinson with a calf injury and Lawrence may now have to bring a midfield player in on loan before the visit to Norwich on Saturday.