Paul McKenna and Richard Cresswell scored the goals which kept Preston's
fading play-off hopes alive with a comfortable win at Stockport.
Preston started the better of the two teams, Cresswell twice going close in
the opening three minutes.
Less than a minute was on the clock when the former Sheffield Wednesday and
Leicester striker tried an audacious lob from the edge of the area which sailed
just over.
Soon after he tried the trick again, this time County goalkeeper Andy Dibble
making the save.
The Lilywhites, who had lost their last four away games, made one change to
the team held 2-2 at home to Crewe with Clyde Wijnhard, signed on Friday from
Huddersfield, making his debut in place of David Healy.
It was Wijnhard who was next to test Dibble, drilling in a shot from 18 yards
which had the veteran Wales international scrambling across his goal.
The former Leeds man then had an even better chance but put his header from
Dickson Etuhu's pinpoint cross wide with the goal gaping.
County, fresh from their shock midweek win over leaders Manchester City, were
struggling to establish themselves.
Player-manager Carlton Palmer made just one change from the City game,
replacing Chris Williams with Mark Byrne up front.
It took until just before the half hour for the hosts to create their first
decent chance.
Alistair Gibb floated in a free-kick after Etuhu had fouled Keith Briggs and
Robert Clare got up highest. Preston goalkeeper David Lucas was equal to his
six-yard header however.
As half-time approached, Cresswell again went close to breaking the deadlock,
Dibble this time denying him from just six yards, before McKenna finally broke
down the County defence.
Just when it looked like relegated Stockport were going to hold out, McKenna
lashed an 18-yard volley into the top corner from Graham Alexander's cross to
send Preston in a goal up at the break.
Palmer threw on Andrew Welsh and Colin Woodthorpe at half-time to try and get
the hosts back into the game, but five minutes after the break, County found
themselves two behind, Cresswell slotting home from close range.
Stockport showed some fight in front of their own fans, pressing to try and
get at least a consolation goal back.
Keith Briggs went close from distance in the 73rd minute before Byrne came
closer still with nine minutes of the game remaining.
From the left side of the area he lobbed the ball over Lucas, only to see his
effort come back off the woodwork.
Briggs and Byrne both went close again in the closing moments but Preston held
on to record an crucial victory.
Teams:
Stockport: Dibble, Clare, Palmer, Challinor, Gibb, Briggs, Thomas (Woodthorpe 46), Hardiker, McLachlan (Welsh 46), Byrne, Beckett.
Subs Not Used: Turner, Williams, Wild.
Preston: Lucas, Alexander, Edwards, Lucketti, Gregan, Cartwright, McKenna, Anderson, Etuhu, Cresswell,
Wijnhard (Healy 79).
Subs Not Used: Rankine, Eaton, Keane, Moilanen.
Booked: Gregan.
Goals: McKenna 45, Cresswell 51.
Att: 6,139
Ref: A Kaye (Wakefield).
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