REPORT | ARGYLE 0 PRESTON NORTH END 1
Argyle 0
Preston North End 1
Millar 43
Argyle fell short of delivering a much-needed three points on Armed Services Day at Home Park, as Ryan Lowe’s Preston North End snatched a narrow win.
The first period was a disjointed affair with the former Argyle manager forced to shuffle his pack with two early substitutions, and one of those replacements, Liam Millar, grabbed the only goal two minutes before the break.
The Pilgrims battled gamely after the interval but were unable to find the answer to the Preston problem and will use the international break to regroup ahead of the final push of a long season.
Argyle Head Coach Ian Foster made two changes from the side that drew 1-1 at Blackburn Rovers seven days ago, Joe Edwards and Adam Randell replacing Adam Forshaw and the suspended Bali Mumba.
Preston suffered a surprise 2-1 loss at home to Stoke City last weekend and were under pressure inside the opening minute at Home Park, Ryan Hardie lurking for a loose ball in the box before the visitors hacked clear.
Mickel Miller burst down the left for the next foray in a frenetic start, releasing Hardie for an attempted chip of goalkeeper Freddie Woodman that was only a fraction off radar. Preston were then forced into an early change, Millar replacing the injured Milutin Osmajic.
PNE welcomed Michael Cooper to the game with a back-post header from Jordan Storey comfortably held by the Argyle custodian. Preston were forced into a second substitution inside 20 minutes, Brad Potts replaced by Layton Stewart.
Despite the disruption, PNE conjured their best opening with a clever pass from Mads Frokjaer-Jensen and the Greens were very grateful to Millar for nudging the ball wide from a glorious position.
Argyle replied with an ambitious left-foot volley from Edwards that was no problem for Woodman, as the game descended into a midfield tussle. Just as the Pilgrims looked set for a half-time reset, Preston grabbed the lead, Millar gobbling up the chance after a Liam Lindsay cross had been deflected into his path.
Eight minutes of stoppage time gave Argyle a lift and they nearly delivered an equaliser, Morgan Whittaker’s 20-yarde2 deflecting wide before Mustapha Bundu nodded past the post from a corner.
The lively Millar posed the first problem of the second period, squeezing a shot on goal after breaking from the right but Cooper did well to hold on to the effort. Argyle’s Miller was then withdrawn for Lino Sousa.
The Greens were full of effort and endeavour but Preston were set up in a compact and disciplined unit. Sousa did threaten to unlock the door with decent cross from the left and Whittaker spun on to the loose ball for a shot dragged narrowly wide.
Alfie Devine replaced Julio Pleguezuelo on the hour, as Foster switched to a back four, but PNE held firm, despite the roaring support from the Green Army, and Millar also continued to look the major threat for the visitors.
The other Preston substitute, Stewart, rattled the post from a quick throw before Randell fizzed a drive inches wide from the edge of the box. It was the final act for the homegrown midfielder, as he was replaced by Ben Waine.
Unfortunately, there was no answer for Argyle and Preston took the points.
Argyle: 1 Michael Cooper; 4 Jordan Houghton, 5 Julio Pleguezuelo (16 Alfie Devine 61), 8 Joe Edwards (capt), 9 Ryan Hardie, 10 Morgan Whittaker, 14 Mickel Miller (3 Lino Sousa 52), 15 Mustapha Bundu, 17 Lewis Gibson, 20 Adam Randell (23 Ben Waine 81), 26 Ashley Phillips. Substitutes (not used): 21 Conor Hazard (gk), 6 Dan Scarr, 11 Callum Wright, 22 Brendan Galloway, 34 Caleb Roberts, 35 Freddie Issaka.
Booked: Miller 41, Sousa 63
Preston: 1 Freddie Woodman; 6 Liam Lindsay, 7 Will Keane, 10 Mads Frokjaer-Jensen, 11 Robbie Brady (3 Greg Cunningham 88), 13 Ali McCann, 14 Jordan Storey, 16 Andrew Hughes, 18 Ryan Ledson (capt), 28 Milutin Osmajic (23 Liam Millar 6), 44 Brad Potts (17 Layton Stewart 19). Substitutes (not used): 21 Dai Cornell (gk), 20 Ben Woodburn, 25 Duane Holmes, 26 Jack Whatmough, 35 Noah Mawene, 36 Josh Seary.
Booked: Keane 17
Referee: John Busby
Attendance: 16,646 (1,068 away)