Preston North End 0-1 Derby County: PNE kept out by rock solid Rams

Preston North End suffered a 1-0 defeat to Derby County at Deepdale on Saturday.

It was an attritional game decided by a Patrick Agyemang header on 82 minutes, with an impenetrable Derby forcing North End to take most of their shots from outside the box.

However PNE, who had calls for a second half penalty waved away, remain in the top six, two points ahead of Stoke in seventh.

Sondre Langas tested Jack Walton early on into his first league start with a flicked header towards the near post after a long throw by Joe Ward, but the ‘keeper got across to it well and tipped the ball over the bar.

Ali McCann’s through ball on 12 minutes found Aston Villa loanee Lewis Dobbin, who opted to shoot 20 yards from goal despite an unmarked Milutin Osmajic next to him, but his effort whistled past the post.

Odel Offiah did superbly midway through the half to get to the left hand side of the pitch and press Patrick Agyemang into losing the ball following a clever, direct thrown in by Ward, the number 42’s stubbornness earning him applause from the North End faithful and, eventually, one of the actions that made him the Player of the Match.

A long ball found its way to Osmajic, who expertly muscled past two Rams’ defenders but, sensing he was outnumbered as he closed in on goal, the Montenegrin let fly from 25 yards and couldn’t trouble Jacob Zetterstrom in the Derby goal.

On-loan Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Alfie Devine swung in a whipped, deceiving cross with 10 minutes until half time and the ball almost found Potts at the back stick but he couldn’t quite get the all-important connection.

Milutin Osmajic forced a top-drawer save from Zetterstrom in the closing stages of the first half as he aimed for the top corner 10 yards from goal, but Lewis Dobbin had been judged to handball in the build-up, so play restarted with the Derby number one.

Two minutes into the second half, Ben Brereton Diaz teed Agyemang up perfectly for the opener right in front of goal, only for the US international to blaze the ball over the crossbar.

Rhian Brewster forced a good save from Walton on 50 minutes, and the follow-up was turned away by Offiah, who sliced the ball away from danger albeit with North End’s hearts in their mouths for a split second. Brereton Diaz fired wide in the six-yard box as the visitors continued to ramp up the pressure.

After a hectic start to the second half, PNE eventually got some respite and Devine hit an ambitious, dipping effort from 30 yards on the hour. Derby then put bodies on the line to block volleys from Ben Whiteman and Potts.

North End were left furious on 65 minutes when Lewis Dobbin appeared to be fouled by Matt Clarke as he made his way into the box but referee Farai Hallam waved away strong and raucous claims from the home crowd.

Devine tried again from distance on 72 minutes, this time with a low drive that fizzed past the post. With 10 minutes to go, Langas saw another header land off target before Walton produced another fine stop to keep out a low Corey Blackett-Taylor shot.

However, the Rams took the lead just seconds later. Agyemang had missed a couple of great chances earlier in the game but he rose to meet, and direct, his header powerfully into the net after a cross by Brereton Diaz.

North End went direct in their search for a late equaliser, but just could not break down Derby. Zetterstrom kept out yet another attempt from Devine, before Storey headed over in a crammed 18-yard box.

Attendance: 17,641 (3.616 away). Preston North End starting XI: Walton; Offiah, Storey, Gibson, Potts (Valentin 68’), Whiteman (c), McCann (Smith 79’), Lewis (Small 58’), Devine, Dobbin (Thompson 79’), Osmajic (Jebbison 68’). PNE unused subs: Cornell, Lindsay, Nelson, Frokjaer.