Liverpool loanee Sheyi Ojo bagged Cardiff's winner as they clinched a battling 1-0 win at Preston.
The 23-year-old winger scored his first English League goal for 34 months as the Bluebirds edged a scrappy showdown and made it five unbeaten away from home in the league.
Preston had a few good chances of their own but lacked a killer bite in front of goal as they slipped to a third league defeat of the campaign.
While the result will see Preston dropped down to 18th place in the SkyBet Championship
Lilywhites boss Alex Neil had the pleasure of being able to include midfielder Alan Browne in his starting line-up a following a Covid scare.