Neil Mellor and Jon Parkin fired Preston to victory over Sheffield Wednesday in Tuesday's Championship clash.
North End close in on top two
Strike-duo Neil Mellor and Jon Parkin fired Preston to victory over Sheffield Wednesday in Tuesday's Championship clash and closed in on the top two.
Wednesday had enjoyed much the better of the opening period and were unfortunate not to earn at least a point from an entertaining clash.
Mellor put Preston ahead against the run of play in the 20th minute. The former Liverpool man met Eddie Nolan's cross with a left-footed strike which deflected off Darren Purse before nestling in the bottom-right corner.
Wednesday responded well and were incredibly unlucky not to level in the 29th minute as Jermaine Johnson struck Andy Lonergan's left-hand post with two shots in succession.
Michael Gray did equalise nine minutes later with a sublime curling free-kick before the hosts hit the post yet again in first-half injury-time through Purse's volley.
Preston improved after the interval and edged ahead for a second time in the 55th minute as Parkin grabbed his fourth goal of the season - the burly forward side-footing home from close range after a neat cutback from strike partner Mellor.
Preston could have extended their advantage in the closing stages, with Mellor curling a shot narrowly wide of Lee Grant's right-hand post and Darren Carter coming close with a volley from Ross Wallace's corner.
However, it mattered not as the visitors held on to claim a valuable three points and maintains their position in the top six, moving them to within two points of pacesetters West Brom and Newcastle.
