Cardiff City boss Omer Riza insists his team are showing their survival instinct after Yakou Meite’s dramatic stoppage-time goal earned the Bluebirds a valuable 2-2 draw at Preston North End.
It was not a convincing performance but it’s a result that could prove vital in their fight to remain in the Championship.
Despite a frustrating first half and falling behind twice in the game, Riza’s team showed resilience to claw their way back, with second-half substitute Will Alves and late hero Meite both finding the net to extend Cardiff’s unbeaten run to four games.
“The boys showed the fighting spirit and I’ll keep saying the same thing, we’re fighting for survival,” said Riza.
“They are fighting for each other, they are fighting for the club and we’ve come away with a point.”
Milutin Osmajic opened the scoring for Preston midway through the first half as Cardiff endured a flat and error-strewn opening 45 minutes.
Osmajic could have added more, and the travelling fans made their dissatisfaction clear at half-time.
Riza responded with a bold tactical change, swapping defender Dimitrios Goutas for the attack-minded Alves, and the on-loan Leicester teenager delivered almost instantly, scoring his first Championship goal just seven minutes after coming on.
“(Preston) created good moments, good opportunities, but we stuck at it and we got that point. We’ve come here to try to get three because we need three every game, but us picking up a point today was vitally important,” Riza added.
When Stefan Thordarson restored the hosts’ lead in the 72nd minute, it looked like Cardiff's comeback hopes were over.
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But deep into added time, Meite rose unmarked at the back post to head home a dramatic equaliser.
“It’s important we pick up points and survive however it comes,” said Riza.
“We are four unbeaten but we know the importance of three points to take ourselves away from that area and we’re not managing to do it because of fundamental errors.
“That’s what we need to clean up, but one point is a big point for us today.”
The draw keeps Cardiff in the relegation zone, but the manner of the performance — especially in the second half — will give Riza hope ahead of a crucial weekend clash with fellow strugglers Stoke City.
Preston boss Paul Heckingbottom, whose side have now drawn 19 games this season — including 12 at Deepdale — was left to rue a lapse in concentration.
“Before (the goal), it was good, I was pleased, but you get punished when you switch off,” Heckingbottom said.
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“It’s a mistake, it’s an error, but I just said to the boys in there we did more than enough at the other end so we can’t just look at that one error.
“We have to consider the other opportunities to win it at the other end as errors as well. It’s a frustrating one but I’m pleased with the performance.”
Both managers had turned to their benches in search of a spark late on. While Preston initially reaped the reward with Thordarson’s header, it was Cardiff who had the final say through Meite’s cool finish.
“I’d rather lose a game trying to win it,” Heckingbottom added. “We need to make sure we take that mentality into next season and be a team that tries to protect points because, 19 draws, it’s not going to get us anywhere.”
For Riza, however, every point counts — and this one, earned in the dying moments, could be a turning point in Cardiff’s survival battle.
