FULL-TIME REPORT: Preston North End 1 Blackburn Rovers 2

Rovers went in front in the 31st minute when the ball hit England Under-21 goalkeeper Pickford and crossed the line.

And they doubled their advantage in the 52nd minute when Rhodes kept his cool from the spot after substitute Chris Taylor was brought down in the box.

But the Lilywhites, who came into the first meeting of the sides since May 2001 on the back of six straight clean sheets, halved the deficit in the 67th minute when Rovers old boy Joe Garner netted his first goal of the season.

That set up a frantic finish in which Preston defender Bailey Wright was shown his second yellow card.

But, with Grant Hanley and Shane Duffy pillars of strength at the back, Rovers withstood the pressure to make it a perfect start for new boss Lambert.

The hard-fought victory also extended their unbeaten run to four games and hauled them up to 13th in the standings, eight points behind the play-offs.

Rovers, as promised by Lambert, started on the front foot.

But the first moment of quality, in the 10th minute, came from the Lilywhites.

Paul Gallagher, another former Rover, played a sharp one-two with Daniel Johnson and fired in a 20-yard shot that Jason Steele gathered at the second time.

Preston threatened again in the 14th minute when Johnson’s hooked pass caught out the recalled Adam Henley and released Adam Reach, whose cross was cleared behind by Hanley.

Hanley’s centre-back partner Duffy then went close for Rovers with two headers from consecutive Craig Conway corners.

Rovers were building up a head of steam and Pickford showed good hands to pluck a fizzed Markus Olsson’s cross out of the air.

But a poor pass from Ben Marshall in the middle of the park nearly landed them in trouble with Henley hacking the ball clear after Gallagher saw another attempt blocked.

Seven minutes later Rovers took the lead.

A Conway free kick broke to Corry Evans on the edge of the area and he wasted no time in shifting the ball to his right foot and letting fly with a rising drive that cannoned back off the post and into the path of Duffy.

His goal-bound effort was cleared off the line by Gallagher. The ball, however, hit Pickford and rebounded into the empty net to send the magnificent 5,486 travelling supporters into ecstasy.

It was the first goal Preston had conceded in 571 minutes of football.

Prior to it, Tom Lawrence had gone down injured and, although he tried to play through the pain, the on-loan Leicester City striker had to be replaced by Taylor.

And Taylor was straight into the action as he just failed to get a touch to a cross from Marshall, who was back playing on the wing.

Back came the Lilywhites and Johnson was an inch or two wide with a free kick that Duffy was harshly adjudged to have conceded.

Both teams were fast out of the traps after the restart and, after Rovers captain Hanley made another timely clearance, Conway drove at the back-pedalling home defence and blasted the ball over the bar.

But Pickford was given no chance in the 52nd minute after Taylor’s purposeful run across the Preston box was unceremoniously ended by Paul Huntington after good build up play involving Henley and Marshall.

Premier League referee Mike Dean pointed to the spot and Rhodes did the rest, finding the bottom corner despite Pickford going the right way, to make it nine goals for the campaign and four in as many matches against the Lilywhites.

That was the way it stayed until Garner, who had earlier wasted a good opportunity, made his old club pay after they failed to clear their lines with a crisp left-footed strike.

If the first half was scrappy, then the second was pulsating.

Lambert brought Danny Guthrie on for Conway and went three across the midfield before Fode Koita came on for Rhodes, who had been in the wars.

By that stage Olsson had tried his luck with a first-time effort that failed to trouble Pickford following a stirring run from Marshall, who was now stationed on the left.

Preston were throwing caution to the wind and the Rovers backline were forced to make a series of heroic blocks.

But, after Reach had a big penalty appeal turned down for an alleged push by Henley, any fears of an equaliser faded after Wright was given his marching orders in injury-time for dragging back Koita.

Preston: Pickford, Woods (Clarke 46), Wright, Huntington, Cunningham, Reach, Browne, Johnson (Keane 64), Gallagher, Garner, Doyle (May 64). Subs not used: Kirkland, Vermijl, Welsh, Hugill.

Booked: Huntington, Garner, Wright.

Sent off: Wright 90.

Goal: Garner 67.

Rovers: Steele, Henley, Duffy, Hanley, Olsson, Marshall, Evans, Akpan, Conway (Guthrie 74), Lawrence (Taylor 33), Rhodes (Koita 82). Subs not used: Raya, Spurr, Kilgallon, Delfouneso.

Booked: Evans, Koita.

Goals: Pickford OG 31, Rhodes 52pen.

Referee: Mike Dean.

Attendance: 19,852 (5,486 away).