Cardiff City manager Omer Riza told BBC Radio Wales:
"I don't think we showed quality in possession, when we were on the ball we were untidy with it.
"They lacked quality today, the intensity was not good enough and too many players were waiting for things to happen rather than making them happen.
"The drive has to be there, desire, hunger... all the things we are when we are young and coming through need to be there and it was terrible today."
Preston North End manager Paul Heckingbottom told BBC Radio Lancashire:
"It's all about the result when we've been playing the way we have been. You have to win when you're not at your best and I'm really pleased with that.
"That's not one of our most dominant performances, we know we can play better than that.
"But to get a clean sheet and two goals is so important, and we had some real experience on the bench to help us see the game out."