Preston moved up to seventh after sub Jon Parkin scored a late winner against Doncaster at Deepdale.
Substitute nets 82nd-minute winner to down Doncaster
Preston moved up to seventh in the Championship after substitute Jon Parkin scored an 82nd-minute winner against Doncaster at Deepdale.
The 26-year-old striker had only been on the pitch for six minutes when he scored the only goal of the game, heading home a Ross Wallace cross past Neil Sullivan from close range.
Defender Sam Hird had the best chance for Doncaster but could only head wide from inside the six-yard box in the first half and despite some late pressure, Rovers were unable to find an equaliser.
The visitors showed the early intent and midfielder Martin Woods saw his ambitious 25-yard strike blocked by Preston defender Youl Mawene in the second minute.
Cautious
Both sides were cautious in attack in the opening stages and it was not until the 21st minute that Sullivan was brought into action.
The Rovers goalkeeper punched clear a Wallace corner and Mawene attempted a spectacular bicycle kick from just inside the area but despite clean contact with the ball Sullivan made a routine save.
Woods and Richard Chaplow both saw long-range shots fly wide moments later but the best chance of the half fell to Hird in the 30th minute.
James O'Connor broke down the right flank and delivered a dangerous cross into the penalty area but the unmarked Hird could only direct his header from inside the box straight at Andy Lonergan.
Preston midfielder Paul McKenna created a shooting opportunity eight minutes later but his effort from distance was easily caught by Sullivan.
The home side looked much more lively after the half-time break and Brown stung the palms of Sullivan with a shot from the edge of the penalty area seven minutes into the second period.
Brown went close again in the 57th minute when Wallace's in-swinging corner from the right fell to the North End striker inside the six-yard box but he saw his shot blocked by Brian Stock.
Ambitious effort
Chaplow continued to attempt to shoot from distance and an ambitious effort drifted wide of the goal five minutes later.
Defence was still the watchword for Rovers boss Sean O'Driscoll although his side did contrive to create their first chance of the half when Hird saw his shot blocked by Mawene in the 65th minute.
The Preston defender then had a golden chance to break the deadlock three minutes later when Wallace delivered a pinpoint cross but Mawene could only put his header agonisingly over the crossbar.
Alan Irvine's side continued to look the more dangerous of the two sides and finally got the breakthrough in the 82nd minute through substitute Parkin.
The lively Wallace pinged a superb ball into the penalty area from the right wing and Parkin was able to steal a few yards in front of his marker to head past Sullivan from close range.
Doncaster pressed for an equaliser in the final eight minutes but Stuart Elliott and Woods were unable to beat Lonergan from distance as North End held on.
