A late goal condemned Preston North End to a 1-0 defeat to Lincoln City at Deepdale. Freddie Draper's 81st-minute goal settled a tight contest and condemned Paul Heckingbottom's side to a fourth loss in five league games.
The result leaves Preston rooted to the bottom of the Championship, having taken just three points from their first seven matches. They now face a trip to fourth-placed Queens Park Rangers next Saturday.
Late sucker punch
For much of the game, Preston had looked the more likely to break the deadlock. George Wickens in the Lincoln goal was the busier keeper, tipping over efforts from Andrija Vukcevic and Stanley Mills in the first half. After the break, he turned away a close-range effort from Johnny Kenny.
Preston manager Paul Heckingbottom made a triple substitution just after the hour mark, introducing Jusuf Erabi, Leo Leroy and Delano Burgzorg. But it was Lincoln's changes that proved decisive. Tom Shaw sent on Ivan Varfolomeev and Freddie Draper, and the latter struck the winner with nine minutes remaining.
The goal came from a long throw by Andrei Coubis, a weapon Lincoln used effectively throughout. Draper met it in the box to score his first of the campaign. "We're really frustrated," said Heckingbottom. "While we're not in front, they're going to have their counter-attacks, opportunities and set plays and most of the time we dealt with it, but ultimately it was their biggest weapon."
Missed opportunities
Preston had earlier seen a Ben House header ruled out for offside. Conor McGrandles also forced a good save from Daniel Iversen, with the rebound just evading House. The home side struggled to create clear-cut chances despite enjoying spells of possession.
Heckingbottom had made changes to his side from their midweek Carabao Cup tie, with Vukcevic, Mills and Kenny all starting. The defensive unit, however, could not hold out against Lincoln's persistent set-piece threat. It was Lincoln's first win at Deepdale since the 1995-96 season.
Lincoln manager Tom Shaw praised his team's approach. "Our supporters want full throttle football and that's what we're trying to give them," he said. "We take lots of learning from the top teams and try and replicate our version of it." His side are now unbeaten in four league games.
For Preston, the problems are mounting. Their recent form reads one win and four defeats from the last five, with goals conceded already this term. The defeat to Lincoln, watched by fans including travelling supporters, adds to the pressure ahead of a tough run of games.
That match kicks off on Saturday.
The Lancashire Evening Post reports the decisive goal came from a corner, not a long throw. Freddie Draper headed home from the set-piece on 80 minutes. Jordan Storey saw a late header cleared off the line by Sonny Bradley. Preston's league standing is 24th in the Championship with three points from six games. They have scored six and conceded twelve this season. Andrew Hughes returned from injury as a substitute.
The Lancashire Evening Post reports Freddie Draper's decisive header came in the 80th minute. Paul Heckingbottom said he was 'really frustrated' that a set-piece proved decisive. 'We limited the number of corners... But it was ultimately their biggest weapon,' the manager said. Preston have now lost six of their first seven league games. They sit 24th in the Championship with three points from six matches. Their next fixture is away to Queens Park Rangers.
