A Conor McLaughlin double gave Preston an impressive win over Wigan Athletic on Saturday.
McLaughlin struck either side of half time, as North End dominated the majority of play and could have gone on to score more, but were denied by some fine saves from Latics goalkeeper Lee Nicholls.
Preston made two changes following their empathic win at Walsall, with Michael McLellan and Scott Davidson replacing Jamie Proctor and Neil Dougan.
The Lilywhites first sight of Wigan's goal came in the sixth minute, good closing down by the Preston defence saw Bailey Wright win back possession and play the ball to Ryan McGreevy. McGreevy was then given too much time by Wigan enabling him to play a pinpoint pass to McLellan, but the striker was unable to supply the finishing touch and was denied by Nicholls.
McLellan was again back in the thick of the action, but couldn't celebrate his recent international call up with a goal after a fantastic point blank save from Nicholls. Davidson managed to find acres of space on the right hand side to swing a low cross in onto the run of McLellan to tap home but Nicholls denied him once more.
Preston took a deserved lead not long after McLellan's missed opportunity. Davidson got behind Wigan full back David Mayor to cross another dangerous ball from the right wing; the cross evaded everyone except a grateful McLaughlin who scrambled the ball across the line in the 23rd minute.
The goal gave winger McLaughlin a confidence boost and he started causing the Latics all sorts of problems, showing why the Preston management didn't hesitate in offering him a professional contract. He nearly doubled his tally soon after but his shot was deflected wide by former North End defender Stephen Chiocchi.
Wigan were finding it difficult to break down a resilient North End defence, with Wright and Danny Devine intercepting and preventing any threat on Dom Comrie's goal.
An exquisite turn from Preston skipper George Miller managed to create an opportunity for himself out of nothing. After turning away from Jonathan Crane, he jinked past two Wigan challenges but couldn't find the finish to match the run, shooting comfortably into the hands of Nicholls.
The visitors' best chance to get on level terms before half time fell to midfielder Thomas Amos, who had an ambitious 30 yard strike whisking just past Comrie's post following a goal mouth scramble in North End's box.
Preston finished the half on the attack, a deep cross from the ever present McLaughlin saw it poorly cleared and falling to Wright, who acrobatically shot but went wide of the mark.
Preston started the second half where they left off, not a minute in and they doubled their lead courtesy of McLaughlin's second of the game. Wigan defender Adam Buxton gave possession away inside his own half to McLaughlin and the Northern Ireland U20 International calmly slotted past Nicholls to put PNE 2-0 up.
A superb 50 yard pass from centre back Devine from his own half, which any midfielder would be proud of, found McLaughlin in the Wigan box. The winger tried an audacious volley but couldn't connect cleanly with the shot and went wide of the mark.
The visitors were then offered a life line as a penalty was awarded in the 56th minute. It went from good to bad in a matter of moments for Devine as he tripped Wigan striker Michael Jukes inside the penalty area. Jukes was the man to step up but his spot kick was saved well by penalty specialist Comrie.
Miller was controlling the game in central midfield; he won possession back for his side and played the ball to midfield partner Davidson, who made a darting run at the Wigan defence. Davidson played an elegant through ball to McLaughlin to put him one on one with the goalkeeper, but he couldn't grab that illusive hat trick.
PNE's last chance to increase their lead came in the 85th minute when Miller picked out McLaughlin who struck an effort with the outside of his foot from 25 yards out but was off target.
Jamie Hoyland was pleased with his team's performance, he said: "We were missing one or two players through injury and different things and we re-jigged with one or two players playing out of position. But exactly as I expected they did what they were asked and a comfortable win really.
"Their goalkeeper was outstanding, other than Dominic Comrie the best keeper in the league and he made some great saves and kept them in the game."
PNE: Comrie, Leather, Hart, Miller (c), Devine, Wright, Owens (Clucas 70), Davidson, McGreevy, McLellan (Best 70), McLaughlin. Subs: Holtom.
Wigan Athletic: Nicholls, Morris, Mayor, Buxton (c), Chiocchi (Willis 70), Breezy, Amos (Myler 59), Crane (Ginan 63), Jukes, Rugg, Boothman. Subs: Williams, Serrano.
Report by Jonathon Swift. Photography by Farran Photography and Mark Mcloughlin.
