Tim Cahill's goal 12 minutes from time gave in-form Millwall maximum points
against one of their main rivals for a place in the top six.
Craig Brown's men were caught by a sucker punch just before the interval as
Paul Ifill struck to give the visitors the advantage.
After getting back on level terms through Claude Davis midway through the
second half they were then undone by Cahill.
Both clubs are firmly in the chase for a play-off spot and it was Millwall who
carved out an early opening as they won a corner inside the opening 60 seconds.
Peter Sweeney swung the ball over to the far post but Richard Cresswell was on
hand to clear the danger.
Preston responded with a spell of sustained early pressure and the home side
had the first effort on target when Graham Alexander's long range effort was
gathered by Millwall keeper Willy Gueret.
But in an entertaining opening spell visiting midfielder Ifill then powered a
volley over the crossbar.
Preston's Ricardo Fuller missed the target with a near post header from David
Healy's corner after six minutes as the action continued to switch from end to
end.
Cahill thought he had fired the visitors ahead after 13 minutes, but his
effort was ruled out for offside.
Just five minutes later the home side had a great chance, but Gueret was equal
to Cresswell's close-range header.
Preston keeper Jonathan Gould then had to punch clear from an Andy Roberts
cross and Millwall striker Daniele Dichio headed wide from Sweeney's corner as
the visitors again threatened on the half-hour mark.
With the first-half seemingly destined to finish goalless, Ifill stole in to
score with just seconds of the opening 45 minutes remaining.
Sweeney's cross found Ifill who calmly steered the ball home to give his side
the initiative.
Despite falling behind, Preston failed to trouble the visitors during the
early stages of the second half and it was Millwall who continued to look the
more dangerous.
Michael Jackson cleared Sweeney's free-kick and Michael Keane blocked David
Livermore's shot as the visitors pressed for a second goal.
But Preston still looked threatening when they pushed forward with Healy
having an effort blocked on the hour and Fuller sending a shot wide of the
target.
And the home side gained their reward after 69 minutes when Davis stooped to
head home from close range and level matters.
But Millwall were back in front eight minutes later as Andy Roberts' cross
found the impressive Cahill who headed home the winner.
Preston's Michael Jackson sent a last-ditch header goalwards but Gueret cut
out the danger to extinguish any lingering hopes for the home side.
Teams:
Preston: Gould, Jackson, Davis, Mears, Alexander,
O'Neil (Burley 74), Keane, Lewis, Healy (Lynch 80), Fuller,
Cresswell.
Subs Not Used: Lonergan, Lucketti, McCormack.
Goals: Davis 70.
Millwall: Gueret, Roberts, Lawrence, Ward, Ryan,
Ifill (Braniff 80), Livermore, Elliott, Cahill,
Sweeney (Harris 64), Dichio.
Subs Not Used: Marshall, Wise, McCammon.
Booked: Livermore, Dichio, Braniff, Harris.
Goals: Ifill 45, Cahill 77.
Att: 12,903
Ref: K Wright (East Anglia).
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