Liam Millar’s 43rd-minute strike earned Preston North End their first victory at Home Park over Plymouth Argyle since 2005.
The Canadian came off the bench after an early injury to Milutin Osmajić and scored the only goal of the day towards the end of the first half.
PNE continued to create and struck the post in the second half through fellow substitute Layton Stewart, but it wasn’t to matter as the door was kept shut and Ryan Lowe’s side went into the international break with three points.
After a lively start to the game, play slowed down slightly as North End were unfortunately forced into two changes within the opening 19 minutes, as both Osmajić and Brad Potts limped off, with the latter playing for the first time since early February.
The first of those subs Millar couldn’t believe he hadn’t opened the scoring when he chested down a clever pass by Mads Frøkjær and somehow sent his six-yard effort wide of goal.
In the 41st minute, Mickel Miller was probably considering himself a lucky man not to see red for a strong, lunging challenge on skipper Ryan Ledson, which he was booked for.
North End’s frustration at that decision soon turned to jubilation, though, as Millar got his goal. It was Liam Lindsay of all people popping up on the left and sending a cross in for Will Keane, and his flicked header fell for Millar, who struck brilliantly across goal and into the far corner.
There was a big let-off to come for PNE in the eighth minute of stoppage-time as Mustapha Bundu somehow couldn’t find the target with a free header six yards out.
That was a warning sign for the Lilywhites, who came out on the front foot in the second half, and Millar was denied his second of the day in the 51st minute when Michael Cooper saved low to his right.
PNE continued to create and Millar was again involved in the 69th minute as he got on the end of a floated cross from Frøkjær, and the No.23’s touch just evaded Will Keane, who was in a great central position in the area.
The chances kept coming and Stewart couldn’t have come much closer to his first goal in professional football as he struck a 20-yard effort viciously against the outside of the post.
Argyle did have a late go at North End, with the likes of Morgan Whittaker and Ryan Hardie trying their luck, but PNE held firm to keep a clean sheet and seal a 1-0 win on the road.
Plymouth Argyle line-up: Cooper; Pleguezuelo (Devine, 61), Phillips, Gibson; Edwards, Randell (Waine, 81), Houghton, Miller (Sousa, 53); Whittaker, Bundu; Hardie. Subs not used: Hazard, Scarr, Wright, Galloway, Roberts, Issaka.
PNE line-up: Woodman; Storey, Lindsay, Hughes; Potts (Stewart, 19), Ledson, McCann, Brady (Cunningham, 88); Frøkjær; Osmajić (Millar, 7), Keane. Subs not used: Cornell, Woodburn, Holmes, Whatmough, Seary.
Attendance: 16,646 (1,068 PNE fans).
Referee: Mr J Busby.
