A GAME to sum up the whole season - that was Craig Brown's reaction after watching his side surrender a 2-0 home lead against Cardiff.

Some good football, plenty of chances on goal, but defensives lapses which cost Preston dear - all part of the mix for a disappointing season.

Eddie Lewis, back from injury, gave Preston the lead on 15 minutes when a perfect pass from Ricardo Fuller sent the American on his way down the left wing, drilling a left-footed shot into the net.

Five minutes from the break and Lewis almost doubled Preston's lead, only to see his shot come back off the woodwork.

An amazing run by Paul McKenna down the middle of the pitch 20 seconds after the re-start sent North End 2-0 up - even if the man behind the voice-overs awarded it to Eddie Lewis.

But by the team the stadium announcer could correct his blunder, he was calling out Cardiff's first retaliation - a 30-yard shot from Andy Campbell which caught Jonathan Gould off-guard.

Danny Gabbidon then got on the end of Richard Langley's cross from the rightto send a header past Gould.

Chris Lucketti almost grabbed a late winner for Preston, but his header from Alexander's corner came back off the woodwork.

Brown said: "I think the players did enough to prove themselves after last weekend's game at Derby. The team out there was, with just one change, the same one which lost 5-1 a week ago.

"We should have won the game. We were by far the better side, and we had the chances to win.

"What people criticising us should remember is that we have not been able to establish continuity recently. If you look at Norwich, most of their defence have played 38 games this season, that tells its own story.

"We have had to chop and change a lot, and not through choice. But that game was the story of the season, and we have to stop the defensive lapses."

PRESTON 2

CARDIFF CITY 2

Preston: Gould, Alexander, Michael Jackson, Lucketti, Broomes, Lewis, Etuhu, McKenna, Healy, Fuller, Cresswell. Subs: Lucas, Briscoe, McCormack, Lynch, Davis.

Cardiff: Margetson, Weston, Collins, Gabbidon, Barker, Langley, Boland, Bullock, Robinson, Campbell, Lee. Subs: Earnshaw, Croft, Parry, Gordon, Alexander.

Referee: A Kaye (W Yorkshire)