Sedgwick denies Bluebirds
By Chris Stanton. Last Updated: January 1, 1970 1:00am
Preston winger Chris Sedgwick scored a dramatic 90th minute equaliser in a 2-2 draw at Cardiff's Ninian Park.
Joe Ledley's strike just after the half hour mark had given Cardiff a slender interval lead before North End's Tyrone Mears levelled in the 62nd minute.
Jason Koumas's free kick ten minutes from time had appeared to hand the win to Cardiff before Sedgwick's first goal of the season.
Preston were the first to impose their authority on proceedings with Manchester United loanee David Jones shooting wide from the edge of the area.
Kevin Cooper responded for the home side but his drive from 18 yards was straight at Carlo Nash before Koumas saw his free kick crash against the post.
The Bluebirds took the lead three minutes later when Ledley finished from six yards for the 18-year-old's second goal of the season.
Falling a goal behind seemed to inspire the visitors who created chances for the likes of Lewis Neal, Patrick Agyemang and Adam Nowland, although all were spurned.
Neal was wide again at the start of the second half but the Lilywhites' persistence finally paid dividends when Nowland found Mears and the defender steered right-footed into the bottom corner.
Jones and Neal were both denied by Neil Alexander in the Cardiff goal and Preston boss Billy Davies then introduced substitute striker David Nugent as the Lancashire side sensed all three points.
Those hopes were dealt a severe blow when Koumas dusted himself down after being fouled by Mears and fired in a 25-yard free kick.
Preston and Sedgwick had the last laugh nevertheless when the former Rotherham man got on the end of Callum Davidson's centre to head powerfully home and earn his side a well-deserved share of the spoils.
Matches
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npower Championship
Table
npower Championship
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cardiff City | 46 | 87 |
| 2 | Hull City | 46 | 79 |
| 3 | Watford | 46 | 77 |
| 4 | Brighton and Hove Albion | 46 | 75 |
| 5 | Crystal Palace | 46 | 72 |
| 6 | Leicester City | 46 | 68 |
| 7 | Bolton Wanderers | 46 | 68 |
| 8 | Nottingham Forest | 46 | 67 |
| 9 | Charlton Athletic | 46 | 65 |
| 10 | Derby County | 46 | 61 |
| 11 | Burnley | 46 | 61 |
| 12 | Birmingham City | 46 | 61 |
| 13 | Leeds United | 46 | 61 |
| 14 | Ipswich Town | 46 | 60 |
| 15 | Blackpool | 46 | 59 |
| 16 | Middlesbrough | 46 | 59 |
| 17 | Blackburn Rovers | 46 | 58 |
| 18 | Sheffield Wednesday | 46 | 58 |
| 19 | Huddersfield Town | 46 | 58 |
| 20 | Millwall | 46 | 56 |
| 21 | Barnsley | 46 | 55 |
| 22 | Peterborough United | 46 | 54 |
| 23 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 46 | 51 |
| 24 | Bristol City | 46 | 41 |
Chris Sedgwick
Jason Koumas
Tyrone Mears
Joe Ledley
