PRESTON 4

(Barkhuizen, 2) (Robinson, 10) (Moult, 74) (Browne, 85)

ROVERS 1

(Graham, 48)

It was to be a sobering derby day  for Rovers at Deepdale as they were beaten 4-1 by Preston North End.  

Rovers were left with it all to do after conceding twice in the opening 10 minutes, while two goals in 11 second half minutes gave the scoreline a one-sided look.

Alan Browne claimed a goal and two assists, setting up the early goals for Tom Barkhuizen and Callum Robinson, before adding the fourth after Louis Moult came off the bench to make it 3-1.

Rovers had threatened a comeback when Danny Graham, on as a half time substitute, reduced the deficit with his fifth of the season in the 48th minute.

But the game ran away from them after Moult restored the hosts’ two goal lead, moments before Ben Brereton saw a goal chalked off for offside.

Preston roared out of the blocks and stunned Rovers with two goals in the opening 10 minutes, exposing a Rovers backline which showed three changes.

Inside the opening 90 seconds Alan Browne snuck in front of Darragh Lenihan and squared for the onrushing Tom Barkhuizen to sweep the ball home.

Rovers were rocking, Ryan Nyambe forced to put in a fine block to keep out a Callum Robinson effort before the two did battle once again shortly after.

Browne was again the provider, sliding the ball in behind Nyambe for Robinson who held off the Rovers full back before calmly rolling the ball in to the far corner.

That left the travelling 5,500 fans stunned, with Rovers trying to launch a response soon after. Their better work was coming down their right, and it was from there that Elliott Bennett floated a cross for Bradley Dack who was denied by a Declan Rudd save away to his left.

Rovers were operating without a natural striker, with Kasey Palmer leading the line. That meant a more patient approach was required, but also saw several crossing opportunities come to nothing.

From a set piece they were to go close in the 22nd minute, only for Lenihan to glance wide a Harrison Reed right wing corner.

The pressure was beginning to build from Rovers, but a lack of intensity meant a Preston side willing to sit back after their early salvo led to few clear-cut chances.

Charlie Mulgrew, back in the side, showed what Rovers had been missing from dead ball situations as he whipped a free kick up and over the wall, with Rudd at full stretch to tip over.

And he was to deny Dack again on the half hour mark, a save made better by the slight deflection it took on the way to him, with the ‘keeper saving with his feet.

The half ended with little threat from Rovers though, as PNE held firm, and had two fleeting efforts at goal themselves, both from striker Lukas Nmecha, though both efforts, one a header and another a left foot shot, failed to test David Raya.

Graham may have been omitted from the starting line-up but his introduction came at the break, replacing Richie Smallwood.

And he was to haul Rovers right back in to it with a goal just three minutes after the re-start. Reed floated a free kick to the far post which the striker headed back across goal and into the far corner.

Playing with more urgency, and towards their travelling fans, Rovers were threatening an equaliser. Bennett drew a smart save from Rudd with a 25-yarder as the game really began to open up.

Nyambe again roared forward down the right, cutting the ball back to Dack who tried a cheeky backheel, only to direct it wide of the target.

At the other end, Robinson continued to be the hosts’ main threat, dragging a shot wide of Raya’s left hand post at the end of a break forward.

Rovers sent on Joe Rothwell and Ben Brereton in the space of four minutes, for Armstrong on Palmer, while Preston also made two changes in attack.

Raya held on to a Paul Gallagher free kick at his near post as Rovers’ threat from the early part of the half had begun to evaporate.

And so it proved with 16 minutes to play as the hosts restored their two goal advantage. Barkhuizen skipped clear of Williams and his cut back found Brandon Barker whose shot was deflected in to the path of Moult who couldn’t miss from three yards out.

That would have lasted for just 60 seconds though were it not for the linesman’s flag. Graham’s header down evaded Dack but ran kindly for Brereton who thumped the ball home from close range, only for his celebrations to be shortlived as he was flagged offside.

Browne capped a fine personal afternoon with a fourth for the hosts, volleying home on his left foot as he met a Barkhuizen cross.

The hosts even had time to go close to a fifth, Barker's deflected effort flashing wide of Raya's post.

Preston: Rudd, Clarke, Huntingdon, Davies, Earl, Browne, Pearson (Ledson, 81), Gallagher, Barkhuizen, Nmecha (Moult, 60), Robinson (Barker, 69)

Subs: Maxwell, Fisher, Hughes, Burke

Rovers: Raya, Nyambe, Lenihan, Mulgrew, Williams, Smallwood (Graham, 46), Reed, Bennett, Dack, Palmer (Brereton, 69), Armstrong (Rothwell, 65)

Subs: Leutwiler, Rodwell, Bell, Conway