Richard Cresswell returned to haunt his former club Sheffield Wednesday, his 79th-minute strike enough to secure all three points for Preston at Hillsborough.

The Nationwide Division One game had seemed destined to end goalless but Cresswell pounced to score from close range after George Koumantarakis' shot came back off the post.

Lee Bradbury went straight into the Wednesday side after rejoining on loan from Portsmouth, and Darryl Powell returned after a one-match suspension. Colin Murdock and Dickson Etuhu were ruled out for the visitors with knee and ankle injuries respectively, but Marlon Broomes was named on the bench after three weeks with a thigh problem.

Wednesday began brightly, Bradbury forcing a second-minute save from Preston keeper Jonathan Gould as Ashley Westwood caused problems for the visitors' defence.

Preston weathered the storm and had a couple of early chances of their own. Koumantarakis' shot was blocked by Westwood and Cresswell sent a header over the bar, before Paul Evans was called into action to deal with a close-range effort from Eddie Lewis.

The game became scrappy as both sides fought for possession in midfield. Alan Quinn and Graham Alexander sent long-range efforts wide of the target but neither side were able to carve out a clear-cut chance.

As Preston began to dominate the game Bradbury had the chance to open the scoring against the run of play just before half-time but his close-range shot went wide of Gould's left-hand post.

Wednesday began the second half as they had the first, forcing two corners in quick succession, but could not make the most of their possession and Preston came back into the game.

Paul McKenna came close to giving the visitors the lead just before the hour but his 58th-minute shot cannoned off the woodwork, before Evans parried a drive from Lewis. Cresswell sent the ball high and wide of the target from close range, while Bradbury and Westwood saw headers go wide.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 79th minute, as Koumantarakis' shot hit the post and Cresswell was on hand to stab the ball home and condemn his former side to almost certain relegation.

Teams

Sheff Wed: Evans, Westwood, Smith, Monk, Barry-Murphy, Quinn, Powell, McLaren (Reddy 62), Johnston, Bradbury (Crane 83), Kuqi (Owusu 75).

Subs Not Used: Pressman, Maddix.

Booked: Powell, Smith.

Preston: Gould, Alexander, Jackson, Lucketti, Edwards (Broomes 83), Cartwright (Mears 70), O'Neil, McKenna, Lewis (Lynch 65), Cresswell, Koumantarakis.

Subs Not Used: Lucas, Skora.

Booked: Jackson, Alexander.

Goals: Cresswell 79.

Att: 18,912

Ref: M Halsey (Lancashire).