ROBBIE Fowler�s first goals in a City shirt were not enough to break his side�s Ninian Park hoodoo as Preston snatched an unlikely injury-time draw.

Cardiff�s nerves were already jangling when Stephen McPhail was harshly adjudged to have handled on the edge of the area with the clock showing 92 minutes.

And, in an elaborate move straight from the training ground, Callum Davidson rifled the free kick straight into the bottom left-hand corner to break Cardiff�s hearts and deny them their first home league win of the season.

As if conceding yet another goal from a set-piece wasn�t enough for Dave Jones to stomach, the City boss had to watch and wait for seven anxious minutes as his only fit centre-half was led from the field on a stretcher.

Roger Johnson was left lying motionless after rushing out to try to block Davidson�s thunderbolt and, although initial fears of a serious neck injury were dispelled, the defender remains a doubt for Tuesday�s Carling Cup tie at West Bromwich Albion.

It had all started so brightly for the Bluebirds. Johnson had already seen a bullet header from a corner cleared off the line by Davidson when Andy Lonergan in the Preston goal made a stunning save on 14 minutes.

Paul Parry � operating on the right flank with Trevor Sinclair dropping to right back � and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink combined to float a perfect cross for Joe Ledley at the far post.

But, despite doing everything right, the young midfielder was left open-mouthed as Lonergan somehow managed to fling himself across goal and push his header over the bar.

It was another cross from the right which finally unlocked Preston�s defence. This time it was man-of-the-match Ledley who delivered the ammunition.

Receiving Sinclair�s pass on the overlap, the 20-year-old picked out Fowler�s run at the far post. After out-muscling Youl Mawene, the former England striker powered home with his head to open his Cardiff City account.

Fowler�s grin was matched only by that of chairman Peter Ridsdale, while outside the dugout Jones� shoulders visibly relaxed as his highest-profile signing finally did what he had brought him in to do.

North End offered little in response, and Cardiff nearly doubled their lead when Gavin Rae�s looping volley forced another save from Lonergan.

Hasselbaink found Row Z with an ambitious 40-yarder but, given their recent penchant for throwing away leads, the two-goal cushion City needed never came.

Instead, Paul Simpson�s side began the second half on the front foot and hauled themselves level within five minutes.

As in the 2-1 defeat against Watford on Wednesday night, failure to clear their lines again proved City�s undoing.

Matty Hill�s cross from the left was headed out by Johnson only as far as Davidson on the edge of the area, and the former Scottish international fired an unstoppable volley past debutant Michael Oakes into the bottom right-hand corner.

Questions may persist over Fowler�s pace and fitness, but there�s no doubting his speed of thought.

As Ledley prepared to take a corner on the hour, the 32-year-old was several seconds ahead of the Preston defence, giving him space to head home from six yards and restore City�s lead.

City�s tails were now up and, having scored two goals at home for the first time this season, went looking for a third.

Ledley went close after good work from Chris Gunter, on for the injured Parry, while Hasselbaink drew another quality stop from Lonergan after tying left-back Liam Chilvers in knots several times over.

But, as chances went begging, City�s anxiety increased and Preston pushed forward sensing an equaliser.

City�s fears were duly realised when Davidson�s rocket found the net, extending the Bluebirds� winless run in the league at home to more than six months.

CARDIFF 2 - 2 PRESTON
Cardiff's Fowler In 'Team of the Week'
Bluebirds suffer late heartache