[themaclad]

Preston North End 2 Holmes, Millar Plymouth Argyle 1 Hardie

PNE line-up: Woodman; Storey, Lindsay, Hughes (Whatmough, 63); Potts, McCann, Ledson (Whiteman, 60), Millar; Holmes, Browne (Frøkjær, 46); Osmajić (Brady, 75). Subs not used: Cornell, Cunningham, Stewart, Woodburn, Best.

Plymouth Argyle line-up: Hazard; Kesler-Hayden, Pleguezuelo (Scarr, 85), Gibson, Miller (C.Wright, 68); Cundle (Randell, 73), Houghton (Waine, 85), Azaz; Whittaker (T.Wright, 85), Hardie, Mumba. Subs not used: Burton, Butcher, Edwards, Warrington.

Attendance: 17,542 (2,737 Plymouth Argyle fans).

Referee: Mr G Ward.

On a sunny late summer afternoon, North End duly ran out 2-1 winners against Plymouth Argyle although in truth if Argyle had got a point doubt whether anyone in the ground would have complained.
Backed by 2500 travelling support the away side more thsn contributed to an highly entertaining game probably the best game seen for years at the old ground.
Both North Ends new signings started the game and ine of them Millar made an immediate impact, cross field pass from Potts, Millar controlled the ball headed for the box, cross shot should probably have been dealt with better by the keeper, he pushed the ball upwards, Holmes headed home, took 41 seconds.
Never like very early goals leaves a long time to hang on and for large periods of the first half that is exactly what we did, Aziz and Whittaker two quality players caused us problems as did the quality of crosses into the box which whizzed across the face of the goal, when they did get sight of goal they were denied by some great defending and also couldn't get passed Woodman who denied Kesler-Hayden following a swift break and an astute Aziz pass.
Slightly against the run of play we doubled our lead, a loose pass in midfield ball to Osmajic onto Millar again drove into the box went left then right curled the bll into the far corner. Argyle pressed again couldn't reduce the arrears as the break came.


We had chances to kil them off early in the second period failed to take them but when Hardie finished off a good team goal on the hour it was game on again. Again we were forced to defend in numbers however Woodman wasn't really tested. We could have added to our goals great save by Hazard denied Osmajic after a good cross by Millar, Potts also hit the post possiby Hazard may have got a touch on that as well
We were effectively down to ten for the last few minutes as Millar was struggling to walk following cramp after another charge at goal. Argyle forced a series of corners all whipped into the six yard box all dealt with, points ours back to the top of the league.

Preston North End manager Ryan Lowe told BBC Radio Lancashire:

"The lads put everything on the line to make sure they came away with three points.

"First half we were well worthy of the two goals, we came out with a really fast start, which we wanted.

"The second half was always going to be tough, fair play to Plymouth, they changed a few things around, especially bringing all the subs on, and really had a good go.

"I thought the game was a fantastic entertaining game for the Championship, and however [the] way, you find a way to win, especially in the second half by keeping the back door shut, but I thought we were excellent first half."

Plymouth Argyle manager Steven Schumacher told BBC Radio Devon:

"I felt our performance probably didn't deserve to lose the game, but we have come away from home again, played really well, caused the top-of-the-table team loads of problems and found ourselves coming away with nothing.

"I'm really disappointed, but I'm also proud and pleased at the players' performance because we were brave today.

"Even after going 1-0 down we were brave to keep playing and we were more than a game for them today."