PNE comeback to beat Stoke

Preston made a remarkable comeback to overhaul Stoke at Deepdale. The score ended 3-2 but only after Stoke had taken an early 2-0 lead. Preston remain in 3rd whilst Stoke slip to 9th.

Preston made changes to the side that beat Barnsley last Saturday. Pugh returned from suspension and replaced the injured Callum Davidson in the middle of the park. Sedgwick started on the right wing and Neal kept his place on the left. Ricketts had to settle for the bench alongside Sean St.Ledger, who returned from injury. Whaley, Dichio and Lonergan completed the bench. Matteo and Griffin made their debuts for Stoke.

PNE line up: Nash, Alexander, Wilson, Chilvers, Hill, Sedgwick, McKenna, Pugh, Neal, Ormerod, Nugent.

Stoke line up: Simonsen, Hoefkens, Duberry, Sidibe, Higginbotham, Pericard, Russell, Matteo, Griffin, Lawrence, Wilkinson.

The game started quickly and there was immediate action with a goal within 90 seconds. Liam Lawrence was the scorer. Sidibe headed down for Lawrence and all he had to do was lash the ball into the bottom right corner. He did exactly that.

Preston 0-1 Stoke: Lawrence 2

The second attack also resulted in a goal. Stoke leading 2-0 at Deepdale within 10 minutes. This time Sidibe turned from assister to goal scorer. The big striker pounced on a misunderstanding in the Preston defence. Matt Hill headed back to Carlo Nash but the keeper hesitated to collect it and Sidibe nipped in to score his fifth of the season. By now the Stoke fans were ecstatic and it seemed Preston were on their way to a second successive home league defeat.

Preston 0-2 Stoke: Sidibe 7

Two minutes after Stoke`s second goal, Preston had a penalty appeal turned down. Stoke defender Andy Griffin looked to have handled the ball in the area but the ref waved play on. Preston first real chance came on 19 minutes when Nugent saw his dipping effort go over from the edge of the box. Preston were having all the action and they created many chances but couldn`t convert any.

The first player in the book was Stoke`s Wilkinson, who upended Ormerod on 40 minutes. Wilkinson was also in trouble again just a few minutes later when he fouled Nugent on the edge of the area. However the right back stayed on but only fortunately. Preston again had a chance to reduce the deficit before half time but Ormerod saw his effort saved.

Half time: Preston 0-2 Stoke.

At half time, many Preston fans expected either Dichio or Ricketts to come on to boost Preston`s firepower up front. Paul Simpson decided to do neither and maybe he should`ve done because ten minutes into the second half, Preston hadn`t created any opportunities. Preston had the chance to grab a goal back when Hill drilled in a low cross but no one could get on the end of it.

Whaley replaced Sedgwick on 59 minutes as Preston looked to get something from the game. He made an instant impact with Preston springing to life and it wasn`t long before they clawed themselves back into the game. Whaley set up McKenna who shot from over 20 yards out. The shot went through a crowd of players before ending up in the bottom left corner of the net. Preston were back in the game.

Preston 1-2 Stoke: McKenna 65

Shortly afterwards, Hill and Hoefkens collided in the air and both needed to receive treatment. Fortunately both were alright and able to carry on. Minutes later and Preston thought they had another penalty when it looked like the ball struck a Stoke player on the arm again after Nugent`s drive.

However, Nugent wasn`t complaining a minute later when he equalised for Preston. Again Whaley set up the goal. The winger created some space for himself before playing in a delicious cross for Nugent to head home at the near post. The Striker collected his tenth of the season and it called for Whaley to get his name back in the starting 11.

Preston 2-2 Stoke: Nugent 74

Now both teams wanted a winner and it looked like there was going to be one but no one knew who to. Stoke brought on Brammer and Rooney for Wilkinson and Pericard whilst Ricketts made his Deepdale debut for Preston when he came on for Ormerod. Finally there came a winner in the last minute of this amazing match.

Preston won a corner and it was parried by the Stoke keeper. The ball fell to central defender Wilson who despatched the finish sending the players, fans and staff into overdrive. One of the comebacks of the season, just like the 3-2 victory at Ipswich earlier this year after being 2-0 down.

Preston 3-2 Stoke: Wilson 89

There were no more real chances after the final goal.

Full time: Preston 3-2 Stoke.