North End pulled no punched on Boxing Day with a 2-0 win over Derby County, leaving the Lilywhites within just three points behind rivals Burnley.

With two games in as many days, Alan Irvine this week had signalled his intentions to rotate his squad in a bid to keep his team fresh. Accordingly, Chris Brown dropped to the bench with Neil Mellor taking his place in attack whilst defender Eddie Nolan made way for Billy Jones. Stephen Elliott was amongst the substitutes.

For the visitors, striker Rob Hulse was back in the starting eleven after coming off the bench to net the winner in the Rams’ last outing against Watford.

Derby, who kicked off sporting their bright yellow shirts, fell victim to the first real chance of the first half. Ross Wallace’s ball in found Jon Parkin on the edge of the six-yard box but the ball ricocheted off his right-foot and in the end trickled to the safety of Stephen Bywater’s clutches in the Derby goal.

Derby got within sight of Preston’s goal after just six minutes played through a Nathan Ellington chance. The Duke lost out to St Ledger who calmly averted the danger and then proceeded to trip the former Peterborough defender to concede a free-kick.

On 12 minutes, the best chance so far fell to Preston. Ross Wallace picked the ball up after Jon Parkin had flicked it in his direction. The winger rode the challenge before pulling back to Richard Chaplow whose shot was ballooned over the bar, much to the displeasure of the home support. With both Parkin and Mellor screaming for the ball, many felt there were better options available to him.

After 18 minutes, Ross Wallace had a chance to get on the score sheet himself. Wallace picked up a loose ball inside the Derby penalty area, lined himself up and let leash with a vicious effort only to see it beaten away by Stephen Bywater.

Just 6 minutes later, Ross Wallace had another chance but this time after a Billy Jones cross. Jones’ ball in was not dealt with properly and fell to Wallace who cut in to shoot with his right-foot but his shot was too weak and was claimed by Bywater.

Preston eventually took the lead in the 29th minute through Sean St Ledger, an unlikely source. Preston won a free kick after Chris Sedgwick was adjudged to have been impeded by Lewin Nyatanga which was taken by Ross Wallace. His ball in was missed by everyone until it landed at the feet of Sean St Ledger who managed to squeeze his shot under the body of Stephen Bywater. Preston deserved their lead.

However, just minutes later Derby very nearly equalised with a free-kick of their own. Kris Commons’ curling effort was expertly tipped over the bar expertly by Lonergan, forcing a corner. The resulting corner came to nothing and Preston’s lead was still safe.

On 35 minutes, Nathan Ellington had a excellent chance to equalise. A Gary Teale cross was met by the Duke on the far post who managed to get good power on his header. Despite pressure from Rob Hulse, St Ledger cleared and the danger was gone momentarily.

As it has often been during this game, Derby immediately had a chance themselves up the other end. St Ledger brought down Gary Teale on the edge of the box giving Kris Commons another opportunity from a set-piece. This time the former Forest winger couldn’t get his shot on target and instead watched his shot curl into the Town End.

The latter stages of the first-half at Deepdale was almost like watching a game of tennis as you knew that as soon as one team had gone up one end, the pendulum would swing the other way. Sections of the Deepdale crowd thought that their side should have been awarded a penalty as Chris Sedgwick claimed he was shoved in the back but referee waved play on.

Again, with the pendulum swinging the other way Jon Parkin nearly made it two minutes later. The Beast, as he is affectionately known by the North End faithful, tried his luck with a half volley from the edge of the area. Many fans thought his shot had gone in, Parkin included, but in the end the ball sailed just inches wide of Bywater’s far upright.

The referee brought the first period of play to a close after just one minute of injury time. Up until Preston’s goal, the home side had dominated proceedings but seemed to provoke the Rams by going 1-0 up. Both teams had plenty of opportunities to add to the one solitary goal from Sean St Ledger but in the end, the first-half finished 1-0 to Preston.

Despite the drop in temperature at Deepdale, there was no shortage of action when the teams emerged from the half-time break. Jon Parkin showed great strength and awareness to pick out Chris Sedgwick on the other flank who was looking to double Preston’s advantage immediately after the restart.

On 51 minutes, Neil Mellor was wrestled to the ground giving Preston the chance to have a shot on goal from a dead ball themselves. McKenna and Wallace both stood over the ball but it was Wallace who shot. His shot cannoned off the post, despite cheers from the crowd who thought it had gone in. The danger was not gone though as Jon Parkin managed to squeeze in a half volley but was unable to connect properly.

After 59 minutes, Rob Hulse had another chance to equalise for Derby. Again at the far post, Hulse could not quite get enough power on his header, Lonergan claimed with relative ease. Despite a high-tempo start to the second period, the game hit a plateau with both teams taking a more cautious approach.

Jon Parkin emphatically made it 2-0 to Preston on 66 minutes. An almost carbon copy to his dramatic late winner against Birmingham, The Beast brought the ball down from a Ross Wallace cross onto his chest, steadied himself before unleashing with a thunderous half-volley into the back of the net, to the sheer delight of the home support who were sent into raptures.

Parkin very nearly bagged is second moments later. A free-kick was delivered in by Ross Wallace towards the back post where Parkin was lurking. Bywater sensed the danger and punched the ball out for a corner kick.

How Rob Hulse did not pull one back for Derby astounded everyone at Deepdale. The striker, who has been threatening to score all afternoon with his head, got on the end of a Paul Green cross and just had to make contact with it to put it away. Sean St Ledger flung himself at it and managed to deflect it wide but Hulse understandably looked disgusted with himself.

On 79 minutes, the same applied to Jon Parkin at the other end. Ironically, much like the carbon copy of his goal against Birmingham, the former Stoke man missed one just like he did against Birmingham. After twisting and turning inside the six yard box, Parkin tried to poke the ball home in at the near post of Stephen Bywater’s goal but somehow managed to steer it wide.

Preston’s number three very nearly made it three on 83 minutes. Davidson proceeded forward to the edge of the Derby goal before steering the ball onto his weaker right foot. His shot was underpowered but nevertheless tested Bywater.

In the end, Preston managed to hang on to their clean sheet and were deserved victors. The result means that Preston move up to 7th and in with a shout of finishing the year in the top six.