Camiel Neghli ensured it was a baptism of fire for new Preston manager Graham Alexander as his late strike sealed a 1-0 win for Millwall at Deepdale.
It was coolness personified from the Dutch-born Algerian, who slotted Luke Cundle’s cut-back into the far corner from just inside the box for what turned out to be a 79th-minute winner.
Alexander was at Deepdale for 10 years, making 400 appearances for the Lancashire outfit, and he stood on the touchline as their manager for the first time since leaving Bradford, who were at the top of League One when he departed.
On this evidence, the 55-year-old will have his work cut out as he hopes to turn around Preston’s fortunes with the Lilywhites currently sitting rock bottom of the Championship.
He came undone against a former Preston manager in Alex Neil, who would have been delighted to have ended his three-match winless run with a hard-fought, but deserved, away victory.
Alexander’s new era nearly got off to the worst possible start as Tairyk Arconte slotted past Daniel Iversen inside 30 seconds having latched onto Neghli’s defence-splitting pass, only to be denied by the offside flag.
A buoyant atmosphere pre-game was quickly dimmed and Neghli tested Iversen with a well-struck volley from the edge of the box on 10 minutes as Preston defenders struggled to clear their lines.
The home side were all at sea again in the 16th minute as Kyrell Lisbie thundered against the bar from close range at the near post, reacting quickest to Lyndon Dykes’ header forward.
Preston’s first real chance of note came after 23 minutes as Harry Clarke dragged wide from an acute angle after Jusef Erabi’s shot was blocked by defender Jake Cooper.
On the half-hour mark, though, the pitch opened up for Preston again as Andrija Vukcevic found Callum Lang, who fizzed a shot wide from just outside the box.
The best chance for the hosts fell on the stroke of half-time as Caleb Taylor woefully misjudged a bouncing ball, allowing Erabi in on goal, but the Swede struck straight at Filip Marschall.
Millwall started the second period like they did the first, on the front foot, and Iversen had to be alert to keep out Lisbie at the near post as he turned Zak Sturge’s cross towards goal.
North End did almost take the lead on the counter, however, as Lang teed up Alfie Devine but the ball was slightly behind the former Tottenham man and he dragged his effort wide.
It looked like the game was fizzling out until Neghli provided a ruthless killer instinct from 16 yards, his third goal of the season, much to the delight of the travelling fans behind the goal.
The managers
Preston’s Graham Alexander:
To follow…
Millwall’s Alex Neil:
To follow…
What the result means and next fixtures…
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: skynews.com
