PRESTON NORTH END 2 (Mellor 31, 43)
STOKE CITY 1 (Cresswell 78)

CITY (4-4-2): Sorensen; Griffin (Dickinson 72), Shawcross, Cort (Sonko 64), Higginbotham (Cresswell 64) ; Lawrence (Tonge 67), Whelan (Diao 57), Whitehead (Delap 57), Etherington (Pugh 57); Kitson (Shotton 64), Beattie. Sub (Not Used): Simonsen.

PNE (4-4-2): Lonergen (Henderson, 46); Jones (Hart 61), Chilvers, St. Ledger (Nolan 61), Davidson (Trotman 61); Sedgwick (Brown 64), Carter, Chaplow, Wallace (Hawley 79); Mellor (Elliott 64), Parkin (Nicholson 64).

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1: The hosts win an early corner but Ryan Shawcross deals with the centre andclears it away from danger.

4: Good work from Glenn Whelan and Andy Griffin down the right results in a Potters corner. Liam Lawrence whips it in only for Liam Chilvers to head it out for a second.

5: Lawrence tries again and the ball whips through a packed 6 yard box before being haced away by former Potter Jon Parkin.

6: It's all about corners during the early stages as Preston win their second, but again it comes to nothing as Sorensen comfortably gathers the ball.

9: Penalty for the Potters after Dave Kitson gets tripped inside the 18-yard box after brilliantly turning Sean St. Ledger. Lawrence steps up to take it and fires towards the bottom right hand corner, only for Andy Lonergen to brilliantly palm the ball around the post.

11: Dean Whitehead is looking extremely assured in the middle and continues to breakdown any real Preston attack.

15: North End awarded a free kick 20-yards out after Shawcross brings down Parkin. Ross Wallace's effort is poor though and Sorensen saves easily.

18: A great ball from Callum Davidson whips behind the City backline into the path of Parkin, but he blazes his effort into the stand housing the 500 or so City supporters, who all respond with chants of 'BEAST'.

22: Some great skill down the left flank from the lively Etherington wins the Potters another corner, which Lawrence whips in to Shawcross, who glances the ball across goal and out for a goal kick.

26: A brief spell of pressure from the hosts pegs City back into their own half. However, we stand firm and deny Preston any real opportunities at goal.

28: Sorensen called into action for the first time as Neil Mellor fires an effort goalwards from 25-yards, which the Denmark stopper does well to tip over the bar.

30: Sorensen again called into action, and again he denies Mellor with a good save after Parkin teed him up inside the penalty area.

31: (GOAL) After making a series of superb saves, Sorensen misjudges an inswinging corner and former Liverpool man Neil Mellor fires into an empty net.

34: The Potters almost level immediately though through Whitehead, but after doing well inside the 6-yard box he fires just over the crossbar.

39: Free-kick right on the edge of the 18 yard box for Preston after Shawcross brings down Mellor. Wallace steps up and smashes the ball goalwars but Sorensen stands firm and saves well.

40: Good work by Etherington down the left see's him chip a dangerous ball into the 6-yard box which just evades Kitson; Lawrence picks it up though and finds Beattie who heads wide from 8-yards.

43: (GOAL) Mellor beats two defenders and catches Sorensen off guard with a strike from 15-yards which flew past the City stopper at his near post.

45: It's half time here at Deepdale and the hosts find themselves 2-0 thanks to a brace from Neil Mellor.

46: The second half gets underway and no changes are made for the Potters, whilst Preston have changed their goalkeepers.

47: Great play by Kitson see's him free Etherington through on goal but his effort is well saved by substitute goalkeeper Wayne Henderson.

48: Kitson is looking sharp and he again plays Etherington through with a delightful back heel, but for a second time in 60 seconds Henderson denies the former West Ham star.

52: City dominating thesecond period and go close for a third time when Whelan lashes a thunderous half volley just wide from the corner o the 18-yard box.

57: Trio of substitutions from Tony Pulis as he introduces Rory Delap, Salif Diao and Danny Pugh at the expense of Whitehead, Whelan and Etherington.

65: The match certainly has a warm up feel about it as both managers start making substitutions every couple of minutes.

67: Over the past few minutes City have replaced Cort, Higginbotham, Lawrence and Kitson with Richard Cresswell, Ryan Shotton, Ibrahima Sonko and Michael Tonge.

72: Carl Dickinson comes on to replace Andy Griffin.

78: (GOAL) City are back in the game and the goal comes from substitute Cresswell who glances a trademark Rory Delap long throw-in past Henderson and into the roof of the net.

82: The Potters almost level the scoreline through Sonko, but Henderson gets to the ball first and punches the ball from off the top of the Senegalese defenders head.

90: The referee adds an additional 2 minutes on to the original 90.

91: Cresswell spurns a glorious chance to snatch a draw as he curls wide of the far post with just Henderson to beat.

92: It's full time here at Deepdale and the Potters slip to a 2-1 defeat in a very worthwhile workout.