Preston North End 1-2 Cardiff City: Last-gasp Ugbo winner for Cardiff

Match-winner Ike Ugbo (left) had not scored for Cardiff since August

Cardiff City scored two goals deep into stoppage time to snatch a dramatic late win at fellow Championship play-off contenders Preston North End.

The visitors had the better chances of a goalless first half, but fell behind three minutes after the break as Mark McGuinness was dispossessed by Milutin Osmajic, who sprinted clear and finished neatly.

Soon afterwards, Preston's Robbie Brady was sent off after picking up his second booking for a foul on Yakou Meite.

Despite dominating possession, Cardiff struggled to break down Ryan Lowe's 10 men until Karlan Grant pounced on a loose ball from a corner to equalise in the sixth minute of injury time.

Then in the ninth and final minute added on, substitute Ike Ugbo headed in to send Cardiff's travelling fans wild.

The win sees Cardiff climb up into the Championship play-off places in sixth, while Preston stay fifth.

As late as Cardiff's goals were, they deserved their victory having been in the ascendancy for much of the game even when they were up against 11 men.

Preston, who had won their previous two games, saw plenty of the ball in the early stages, but the best chances fell to their opponents with Manolis Siopis and Perry Ng testing Freddie Woodman.

Grant then had a penalty appeal ignored by referee Bobby Madley and, from the subsequent corner, Woodman saved from Dimitrios Goutas.

It took nearly half an hour for Preston to have an effort on goal as Ched Evans, starting a game for the first time since March following neck and spine surgery, saw a header blocked.

Evans was heavily involved again moments later as he clattered into Cardiff left-back Jamilu Collins, whose retaliation resulted in a yellow card for both players and one for Brady for his reaction.

The Bluebirds troubled the home side at set-pieces and, from one of their many first-half corners, former Preston forward Callum Robinson called Woodman into action once more.

For all those openings, though, Cardiff conceded in frustrating fashion as McGuinness had his pocket picked by Osmajic and the Montenegrin drove towards the penalty area and finished beyond Alex Runarsson.

Preston paid a club-record fee to sign Milutin Osmajic from Cadiz in September

The goal came against the run of play. but Preston soon put themselves under pressure as Brady received his second yellow card for tripping Meite.

Cardiff seized the initiative and started to dominate possession, even if genuine chances were at a premium.

Preston defended well and, just as it seemed they would hold on for a third successive win, they conceded an equaliser six minutes into added time as Grant reacted quickly to a loose ball.

Then three minutes later, Ryan Wintle's inviting cross found fellow substitute Ugbo, who headed back across goal to cap a stunning comeback win for Cardiff.

Cardiff manager Erol Bulut told BBC Radio Wales: "It's a very important win. From the first minute until the end of the game, my players showed character.

"It's not easy to play against 10 players. Sometimes it's more difficult but we did everything right. We kept the ball and tried to create chances.

"I think we deserved to get the three points. There were nine minutes added but it could have been 12 because the opponent tried only to waste time. You could see how important it was for both teams to get the win."

Preston boss Ryan Lowe: "I'm disappointed for the boys... but, I am proud of them for what they did in the game, for large parts of that game that is, particularly having to play with 10 men in the second half.

"We did well, apart from those two moments where there was a bit of luck for them and misfortune for us.

"I cannot fault the lads for what they have put into the match. To lose in the 99th minute, when they put everything on the line, I am so proud of the lads as I always am. It is a result that's a kick in the teeth at the moment."

• Five friends trying to find their voice and fame: The Grime Kids are awestruck by the music scene of East London in 2001...

• Exposing organised crime: Follow a specialist police unit over an extraordinary two-year operation