Millwall furthered their claims for a First Division play-off place with a deserved 2-1 victory over promotion rivals Preston.

Veteran striker Steve Claridge was the toast of the New Den as he grabbed a goal in each half to pull the Lions further clear of the chasing pack.

The south London side, looking to bounce back from two games without a win, began the brighter.

Stuart Nethercott curled a free-kick invitingly into the visitors' box on 10 minutes, but the North End defence managed to scramble the ball clear.

The Lions midfielders were controlling the early proceedings and Claridge should have done better when putting a close-range header wide in the 13th minute.

Preston, who sold striker Jon Macken to Manchester City earlier this week, included former Manchester United forward David Healy in their starting line-up.

But the 22-year-old spurned the visitors' opening chance when heading wide from a Richard Cresswell cross two minutes later.

Healy went close in the 17th minute, but his header was kept out by the legs of Millwall keeper Tony Warner.

The opening goal, when it came for Millwall though, was entirely of Preston's own making.

Defender Graham Alexander had plenty of time when he received the ball deep inside his own half.

But his backpass was woefully underhit and Claridge was able to seize on it before rounding David Lucas to slot the ball into an empty net.

The visitors rallied as half-time approached, but were hit further in the 43rd minute when Scottish international defender Colin Hendry was forced off through injury to be replaced by Adam Eaton.

But the break seemed to invigorate Preston and they began the second half with a barrage of pressure.

Healy fired a long-range shot wide after just 60 seconds before Warner saved brilliantly from a powerful Chris Lucketti header six minutes later.

The Lilywhites had Millwall penned in their own half at this stage and Warner was quickly called into action again as Alexander was given a sight of goal from the right edge of the area.

The Lions weathered that storm though and went close themselves in the 57th minute when Neil Harris fired a ferocious volley narrowly wide of the target.

Millwall boss Mark McGhee was urging his players forward and Tim Cahill brought an excellent save out of Lucas when connecting with a Christophe Kinet cross.

That was just delaying the inevitable though and the home side doubled their lead in the 65th minute.

Matthew Lawrence crossed from deep on the left and Claridge rose unchallenged on the penalty-spot to loop a header into the Preston net for his 16th goal of the season.

Claridge was prominent throughout the closing stages and the 35-year-old showed why he has become such a favourite with the New Den faithful.

Preston remained competitive to the end though and Millwall nerves were jangling when the visitors pulled a goal back with six minutes remaining.

Cresswell broke down the left flank before releasing Healy who calmly slotted the ball past the despairing dive of Warner.

And the Lilywhites went close to a dramatic equaliser when Paul McKenna forced a sharp save out of Warner in injury-time.

Teams

Millwall: Warner, Lawrence, Nethercott, Ward, Ryan, Bircham (Ifill 68), Cahill, Livermore, Kinet, Sadlier (Harris 21), Claridge.

Subs Not Used: Gueret, Bull, Braniff.

Booked: Cahill.

Goals: Claridge 29, 65.

Preston: Lucas, Alexander, Lucketti, Hendry (Eaton 44), Edwards, McKenna, Keane (Anderson 67), Etuhu, Gudjonsson (Basham 67), Healy, Cresswell.

Subs Not Used: Moilanen, Cartwright.

Booked: Etuhu, Healy.

Goals: Healy 84.

Att: 11,071

Ref: M Warren (Walsall).