Match Report | PNE 0 Everton 3

Preston North End’s pre-season campaign came to an end with a 3-0 defeat at home to Everton.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s penalty sent the Toffees into the break with a lead, before good strikes from Jake O’Brien and Jesper Lindstrøm extended their advantage in the second half.

PNE’s best chances of the day fell to Brad Potts and Ryan Ledson, but they were denied in the final preparation fixture.

North End had the first half-chance of the day seven minutes in when Will Keane beat his brother, Michael in the air to head into the hands of Joao Virgínia, while Dai Cornell held on to a Vitalii Mykolenko effort at the other end.

PNE’s goalkeeper had a much greater task on 20 minutes to keep out Calvert-Lewin from the penalty spot, after the striker was brought down by Liam Lindsay, but Everton’s No.9 sent Cornell the wrong way and opened the scoring.

Potts almost had an instant response for North End as he was sent on his way down the right by Ledson, and the wing-back saw his low, driven effort across goal saved by Virgínia.

Everton’s ‘keeper then came up with an outstanding stop in the 29th minute to claw a Ledson header off the line, when it looked for anything that he was beaten.

A clever touch by Lindstrøm caught out PNE in the 42^nd minute as he made his way into the area, only for Cornell to parry his effort away, and in the same attack Calvert-Lewin dragged a low shot wide.

After the break, it was North End creating all the early chances. Robbie Brady fired over in the opening stages and Sam Greenwood then called Virgínia into action 54 minutes in with a header.

Despite the pressure from Ryan Lowe’s side, it was the visitors who scored next just after the hour mark as new signing O’Brien sent a low, powerful effort beyond Cornell from 20 yards.

It was an even better strike which made it three as Lindstrøm dipped a free-kick over the wall and into the back of the net.

The last 20 minutes of the game didn’t see much in the way of chances as both sides made a number of changes, albeit Beto could have scored in the final minute of the game.

All eyes will now be on next Friday for North End, with the Lilywhites opening the Sky Bet Championship campaign at home to Sheffield United.

PNE line-up: Cornell; Whatmough, Lindsay (Storey, 71), Hughes; Potts (T.Mawene, 87), Whiteman (N.Mawene, 87), Ledson (Thórdarson, 71), Brady (Best, 81); Greenwood (Osmajić, 71), Frøkjær (Riis, 45); Keane (Holmes, 81). Subs: Pradic, Pasiek.

Referee: Mr A Backhouse.

Attendance: 12,337 (5,724 Everton fans).