Preston North End 2-2 Cardiff City: Meite’s last-gasp goal earns dramatic draw

Cardiff City claimed what may prove a vital point in the Championship relegation fight as Yakou Meite’s stoppage-time goal secured a dramatic 2-2 draw at Preston North End.

Milutin Osmajic had drilled Preston into an early lead as Cardiff paid the price for a dispiriting first-half display.

Substitute Will Alves sparked a Bluebirds revival after the break, the on-loan Leicester City teenager scoring his first senior goal as his shot deflected beyond Preston keeper Dai Cornell.

Preston reasserted their control of the contest in the final quarter, and looked destined for victory after Stefan Thordarson’s header restored the home side’s advantage.

But in the fourth minute of added time, substitute Meite stole in at the back post to guide in Cardiff’s second equaliser.

Cardiff remain in the relegation places, though the nature of the draw should lift Omer Riza’s players as they prepare for a potentially key game against fellow strugglers Stoke City on Saturday.

It is now four matches unbeaten for Riza’s team, though this was a third successive draw.

Preston, one of the division’s draw specialists this season, stay 14th and are destined for a mid-table finish having won only one of their past eight league games.

Cardiff’s urgent need for points was barely in evidence during a first period in which they were outbattled and outplayed.

What was on display was the defensive vulnerability which has been such an issue this season, with Will Fish’s attempt to turn in his own box almost presenting Preston with an opener, only for Will Keane’s precise finish to be ruled out for offside.

Riza’s rearguard were soon opened up once more, as Dimitrios Goutas stretched to cut out Mads Frokjaer’s through ball but only succeeded in teeing up Osmajic to drive a shot past Ethan Horvath at the near post.