Preston eventually picked up their first away win in the Sky Bet Championship at the 10th attempt as they won 2–0 at Cardiff City Stadium.
An own goal from Cardiff City defender Calum Chambers two minutes into the second half gave them the lead before Montenegrin Milutin Osmajic wrapped things up in the third minute of added time.
In a match where two teams were unlucky – Cardiff had not won their last five games and Preston the last nine – it was always going to be a shadowy affair and it was Josh Bowler who brought some life into the game on the first day. right wing for the visitors.
After Yakou Meite fired in a shot in the second minute, former Cardiff star Bowler tested former teammate Jak Alnwick in a save in the fifth minute after cutting in from his wing.
From the corner, Liam Lindsay headed back across goal from the far post and all it took was a tap-in to open the scoring, but it didn't come.
If that was a near miss for Preston, they had another chance when Bowler pulled off another Alnwick save.
At the other end, Meite shot just past the near post after running into the penalty area and then thought he had broken the deadlock in the 36th minute when he was released in front of goal after a neat pass from Callum Robinson.
Meite made his way into the penalty area and guided the ball past Freddie Woodman in the Preston goal, but Jordan Storey was back on the line to scoop the ball away from goal and into the arms of a relieved Woodman.
Just before half-time, Preston created two more chances, but both Mads Frokjaer-Jensen and Sam Greenwood shot wide.
The second half got off to a flying start, with Frokjaer-Jensen working his way into the penalty area and hitting a shot that required a double deflection before beating Alnwick to the hapless Chambers.
The goal gave Preston the lead just two minutes into the second half, although they had to thank Jack Whatmough for holding onto it six minutes later when he headed a Perry Ng header off the line at the back post after Callum O'Dowda's deep cross .
That was as good as it got for the Bluebirds, who were hoping to celebrate last week's announcement that interim boss Omer Riza had extended his role through the rest of the season.
While they did everything they could to find the equalizer, they were caught at the back.
Osmajic picked the pocket of the last defender, rounded Alnwick and then found the back of the net from the narrowest of angles to seal a much-needed victory.
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