Preston 1-0 Doncaster

Jon Parkin came off the bench to hand Preston victory over Doncaster.

Doncaster created the first real chance but Sam Hird could only head wide from inside the box.

Youl Mawene missed an excellent chance to break the deadlock when he headed agonisingly over the bar after being picked out by a Ross Wallace cross.

But Preston got the winner when Parkin, who had been on the pitch for only six minutes, headed in another pinpoint Wallace cross.

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Preston boss Alan Irvine:
"We got a win in the end. Sometimes you have to grind wins out, and we managed to do that.

"I know from having a few chats with Stoke boss Tony Pulis how he felt that was a massive factor.

"Being in the top half of the division you have to grind out results."

Doncaster manager Sean O'Driscoll:
"This is probably the first game of the season where we have not created many chances. In every game until now we have created loads of chances. Our problem has been not putting the ball in the back of the net.

"But in this game I thought we were going to get away with a goalless draw, which we would have been pleased with.

"I thought we held our own throughout the game. It was nip and tuck. Our final-third play wasn't good enough, but up until today it has been first-class, we just have not had anyone to stick the ball in the back of the net."

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Preston: Lonergan, Jones (Nolan 25), Mawene, St. Ledger, Davidson, Sedgwick (Nicholson 76), Chaplow, McKenna, Wallace, Chris Brown (Parkin 76), Elliott.
Subs Not Used: Hawley, Neal.

Booked: Chaplow.

Goals: Parkin 82.

Doncaster: Sullivan, O'Connor, Mills, Hird, Chambers, Lockwood (Elliott 72), Coppinger (Guy 16), Spicer, Stock, Woods, Taylor (Price 85).
Subs Not Used: Roberts, Heffernan.

Att: 13,152

Ref: Graham Laws (Tyne & Wear).