{"id":16178,"date":"2017-01-31T11:37:17","date_gmt":"2017-01-31T11:37:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jomec.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/?p=16178"},"modified":"2017-01-31T11:37:17","modified_gmt":"2017-01-31T11:37:17","slug":"bluebirds-look-bounce-back-preston-recent-defeats","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/2017\/01\/31\/bluebirds-look-bounce-back-preston-recent-defeats\/","title":{"rendered":"Bluebirds look to bounce back against Preston"},"content":{"rendered":"

CARDIFF City face Preston North End at the the Cardiff City Stadium tonight in what promises to be a tough match for the home team.<\/span>
\nThe Bluebirds will be looking to avenge their 3-0 defeat away at Preston earlier in the season, in the match which kicks-off at 7.45pm.
\nCardiff have pulled away from the relegation zone over the past month with a good run of results, but their momentum has been slowed with two defeats to promotion chasing opposition.
\nA 1-0 defeat away at Brighton was followed last Saturday by a 2-1 loss away to Reading although Cardiff had chances to win in both games.
\nSpeaking to BBC Sport after the Reading defeat, manager Neil Warnock said he was unhappy with his team\u2019s poor goalscoring record. \u201cThat\u2019s two games on the trot now. We could have easily won both. It shows we\u2019re not far off. We haven\u2019t got enough goals in the team,\u201d he said.
\nScoring goals has become even harder recently; top goalscorer Anthony Pilkington has missed the last two games with a thigh strain and he is a doubt for the Preston match. He is joined in the treatment room by veteran striker Rickie Lambert who is struggling with a back problem.
\nPreston are well-placed in the top half of the table, with Simon Grayson\u2019s side an outside contender for a play-off place in only their second season back at this level.
\n

\"Simon