Preston North End 3-1 Blackpool: Lilywhites boost play-off hopes with emphatic derby win

Preston kept their play-off hopes alive with a convincing derby win over relegation-threatened Blackpool at Deepdale.

Ben Whiteman then fooled Blackpool goalkeeper Chris Maxwell for the second, shaping to curl a free-kick into the box for waiting team-mates, only to whip it inside the near post.

Tom Cannon capped a quick counter-attack by placing a neat finish in off the post for Preston’s third before Jerry Yates side-footed a late close-range consolation.

A third win in four matches moves Preston within four points of the play-off places in ninth, before the 3pm kick-offs, while a seventh straight away defeat leaves Blackpool four points from safety in 23rd with seven matches left.

Keshi Anderson’s deflected shot almost rewarded the Tangerines’ promising start with an early lead, but Preston keeper Freddie Woodman got the slightest touch to divert it on to the foot of a post.

Andy Lyons’ goalbound shot was then headed clear, but within two minutes they fell behind to Potts’ superb opener, and the hosts looked in complete control after Whiteman’s disguised set-piece made it 2-0 midway through the first half.

Blackpool boss Mick McCarthy reacted with three attacking changes at the break which increased the visitors’ goal threat, but left them vulnerable to the counter-attack, which Cannon exploited six minutes into the second half to kill off the contest.

The visitors responded by creating a string of chances.

James Husband’s pinpoint cross found the unmarked Morgan Rogers, who somehow put his point-blank header wide, before a similarly well-placed Lyons headed over from another good Husband cross.

Woodman saved from Josh Bowler and Ian Poveda but was denied an 18th clean sheet of the season as Blackpool belatedly got the goal their second-half display deserved when Yates met Bowler’s low cross.

Yet it was scant consolation to Blackpool, who have won just two of their last 22 league matches and next face a huge clash with fellow relegation battlers – and McCarthy’s former side – Cardiff.

Preston North End manager Ryan Lowe:

“As derbies go, it was frantic at times, of course, but I’m delighted for the lads because they’ve shown loads of commitment and character.

“It was going to be crucial, whoever got the first goal, so for us to get it so early was great. After that, the lads carried out the game plan superbly.

“We know it’s so tough to stay in and around the chasing pack, but that’s what we’ll try and do.

“We’ve still got three home games (out of seven) left to get results so we can get after those above us, so then it doesn’t necessarily look as bad as it is.”

Blackpool boss Mick McCarthy told BBC Radio Lancashire:

“I thought the free-kick for the second was a bit soft but we’ve got to block it. It went through the wall – someone’s got to head that.

“2-0 down and they’re playing well then and it became really difficult for our team.

“There were two great crosses from Hubby (James Husband) and we’ve got to score one. If we do score one it just changes the course of the game, like their first goal changes it and gets them up.

“Our leading goalscorer has got 12 (goals), someone else has got three and the next has got two. It’s a real problem for us putting the ball in the net.”