PLAYERS and staff were dragged apart in a brawl at the end of Cardiff’s 2-1 victory at Preston.
The aggro kicked off after Karlan Grant and Ike Ugbo both scored for the Welsh side during TEN MINUTES of added time.
Cardiff’s Yakou Meite was in the middle of the row on the final whistleCredit: Getty
Bluebirds star Joe Ralls, right, gets heated at the endCredit: PA
Players grappled following Cardiff’s last-gasp comeback winCredit: Getty
Deepdale stewards stepped in while others tried to restore order.
Feelings had run high all through the Championship clash as Preston’s Robbie Brady was sent off and Cardiff’s Jamelu Collins clashed with Ched Evans.
Referee Bobby Madley took a close look at the ruck and will consider all the evidence before submitting his report.
Both clubs could be fined for failing to control their players rather than seeing individuals punished.
Grant and Ugbo were Cardiff’s late heroes — but Preston bad boy Brady went down as the villain.
Brady was booked for dissent then body-checked Yakou Meite to be sent off with 52 minutes gone – just after Milutin Osmajic had burst clear to fire North End in front.
Preston clung on until Grant squeezed in Cardiff’s equaliser from a 96th-minute corner.
And Ugbo was left unmarked to head the winner three minutes later.
FREE BETS – BEST BETTING OFFERS AND BONUSES NEW CUSTOMERS
Bluebirds boss Erol Bulut said: “I made changes and the game changed in a positive way. It’s never easy playing against ten men. you can lose your focus.
“We controlled the game from the first minute until the end. We didn’t allow them many chances.”
Preston chief Ryan Lowe said: “I’m gutted but I’m not angry about the sending off. If you take someone down when you’re on a yellow card you have to go.
“We left everything out there. If we carried on with 11 we win the game but we switched off and they got their goals.”