Cardiff City 2 v Preston 1 > More of This Please

Things must be looking up at City as even the Pop was in attendance for this one, rushing his pre match golfing and pumped up for the game. Forget any chat or bonding though as the Pop was also psyched for some time on his phone checking his Facebook profile. He’s completely cool with not talking for an hour straight before getting into game mode at 2.59PM. 

Fans could be forgiven for being led to think that more points would be wasted here against a non-glam team after a busy week. City are digging deep though and appear to have cranked things up in the last few weeks and Saturday was more evidence of the cranking.

Shout out to the Bluebirds home form which has seen them defeated just once all season (against Hull). We all know there’s been a few lame draws in that run and points urinated away, but it’s this form which has kept City in the mix for the top six hunt. Without it, the season would be over now. 

Preston came to town Saturday for a draw and City were dragged into an ugly match lacking in quality but patience paid off and it was Anthony Pilkington (below licking a lip) who continued his run of smoking the opposition. 

Much has been made of ‘Pilks’ being shoved up front in a gamble a few weeks back after Tony Watt left. He’s had some trash talk but ultimately he’s played lights-out and offered more than any other front man on the clubs books this season. He may have the touch of a camel but Pilks is hungry, positive and playing for the team. He's thriving off the responsibility and linking well with strike partner Lex Immers. After another two goals here (making him club golden boot leader), respect is due to him and his form is priceless to City at this time of year. 

As pressure grows, the games are slipping away now (12 to go) and it’s during this squeaky bum time that we’ll learn whether this team can overcome the inconsistency and get s**t done. 

On the horizon now are two ‘winnable’ games away at Bristol and then at home to Leeds within a few days of each other. Grind out more results there and the play offs are on in a major way.