When John Dreyer got the better of Eddie Howe in Preston North End's win against Bournemouth in 2013

At the heart of it was this 2-0 victory over Bournemouth, a side who at the time were chasing promotion.

Eddie Howe’s men never got to grips with North End, nor a difficult playing surface, with the hosts deserved winners.

First-half goals from Stuart Beavon and Bailey Wright settled the contest, helped by some excellent defending at the other end.

Dreyer had been put in caretaker charge of North End 48 hours earlier, that following the sacking of Graham Westley – relieved of his duties after a 3-1 midweek defeat at Yeovil.

PNE had Simon Grayson lined-up as their next manager, in fact Grayson sent his assistant Glynn Snodin to watch this game.

Dreyer was determined to make the most of his short time in charge and that he certainly did.

He made seven changes to the side, tweaked tactics and lifted the gloom which had descended on Deepdale in the closing weeks of Westley’s reign.

Howe, who remained in charge at Bournemouth until last weekend, admitted his Cherries side hadn’t been at the races.

“We were second best, which is really difficult for me to say because it hasn’t happened yet,” said Howe.

“We were slow out the traps, we conceded two poor goals, and we never really had any concerted pressure on their goal.

“We have had a lot of travelling and we’ve got some tired bodies. It was a really poor pitch again but we didn’t react very well to it.”

This was PNE’s first win at home for four-and-a-half months – Deepdale certainly not a fortress as fans grew dissatisfied at Westley.

The players were in the mood to reverse that trend and were 2-0 ahead by the 31st minute.

John Welsh’s pass found Beavon who ran the ball into the path of Jack King on the edge of the box.

When King failed to control properly, Beavon was able to take the ball back off and drilled a right-foot shot into the bottom corner.

The lead was double just past the half-hour mark, Nicky Wroe’s free-kick into the boxmet by King who saw a header blocked.

It was Wright who reacted quickest, the centre-half forcing the ball over the line from close range.

The second half saw the visitors have more of the ball but there was little to trouble Lilywhites keeper Declan Rudd who was making his home debut.

Dreyer said: “It’s been a traumatic week and it’s just the tonic we need.

“We looked threatening, we kept the ball and looked composed in possession.

“I thought we were justified winners.”

PNE: Rudd, Keane, Huntington, Wright, Buchanan, Holmes (Garner 76), Wroe, Welsh, Hayhurst (Monakana 84), Beavon (Beardsley 76), King. Subs (not used): Robertson, Procter, Foster, Stuckmann.