Goals from Alan Lee and Tommy Miller took the Blues to their eighth successive home win as Preston left Portman Road on the wrong end of a 2-1 defeat. The Blues were the better side throughout with the visitors' goal coming via a controversial late penalty.

Boss Jim Magilton sprung one surprise with Fabian Wilnis replacing Alex Bruce at centre-half, but otherwise Town lined-up as predicted with Pablo Couñago returning up front, Sylvain Legwinski dropping out and Billy Clarke starting on the left of midfield.

Pablo Couñago created the afternoon's first penalty area excitement in the ninth minute, dribbling the ball through a crowd of players and into the box where Andy Lonergan claimed at his feet.

Lonergan was forced into action again three minutes later when Couñago played a diagonal ball for Jon Walters to run on to and the former Chester man struck a shot which was well saved by the keeper.

Jason De Vos headed an Owen Garvan corner straight at Lonergan, then the keeper pawed away a Garvan freekick with Couñago waiting to pounce behind him as the Blues started the game strongly.

Town ought to have gone ahead in the 24th minute from another Garvan freekick on the right. The ball reached Billy Clarke at the far post, but the Irish youngster failed to get significant contact on the ball and missed the target.

Fabian Wilnis came close to a rare goal on 25, the danger again coming from a Garvan set piece. Jason De Vos headed against the bar and the Dutchman was first to the rebound, but will have been dismayed to see a defender clear.

David Wright shot over from a Walters lay-off, then Wilnis came close to scoring an own goal when he flicked a Kevin Nicholls freekick only just over his own crossbar with Alexander having advanced off his line to claim the ball.

Just after the half hour mark, Callum Davidson picked up the game's first yellow card for a cynical foul on Couñago with the Blues away on a quick break.

The goal Town's domination of the game deserved finally came in the 33rd minute. Walters and Couñago exchanged passes on the right and the former Irish U21 international sent in a cross which Alan Lee headed into the net from 10 yards out at practically ground level for his sixth goal of the season.

Fabian Wilnis was proving to the Preston's biggest goal threat and the Dutchman was close to beating his own keeper again in the 34th minute when he failed to hear Alexander's call and headed the ball only narrowly wide with the Scottish international audibly unimpressed.

As the half drew to a close, ‘Swing Low Sweet Chariot' and England chants were heard on the terraces as news of the rugby result filtered through. Town were well worthy of their lead at the break and could have been further ahead. Preston had rarely threatened and Neil Alexander had had his quietest game for some weeks, misunderstandings with Fabian Wilnis aside.

The Lilywhites started the second half on top, but it was the Blues who would create the first chance, Wright crossing, Couñago laying the ball off and Walters hitting a weak shot straight at Lonergan. Paul Gallagher received a yellow card after a lengthy spell of treatment for an attempt to bring down Walters early in the move.

Billy Clarke shot wide, before Town withstood a series of Preston corners, the last of which flew alarmingly across the six-yard box.

Walters's dipping 35-yard shot was easy for Lonergan, then Preston sub Patrick Agyemang headed over.

On 62 another Town break saw a Walters shot blocked and the loose ball fall to Clarke 25 yards out on the left. The Irishman unleashed a fearsome shot which had Lonergan beaten but which crashed off the post and away.

Town were starting to regain control of the game after a quiet spell and in the 64th minute Garvan hit a freekick off the wall and wide. From the corner, Fabian Wilnis appeared to be pulled back but referee Mick Russell wasn't interested. Tommy Miller's subsequent shot was deflected over.

Couñago shot narrowly wide from a tight angle on the right as Town's second goal still wouldn't come. Preston's first strike of the half came from Davidson on 70 but flew into the upper tier of the Greene King Stand. Two minutes later, Gary Roberts replaced Billy Clarke on the left of midfield.

Town finally added to their lead in the 73rd minute. The Blues broke down the right, full-back David Wright sending in a cross which was half-cleared to Tommy Miller, who headed back into the box to Pablo Couñago. The Spaniard held the ball up before laying it off to Miller, the former Sunderland man beating Lonergan from close in for his first goal since re-signing for Town in the summer.

Sub Simon Whaley curled a shot narrowly wide of Alexander's goal, then the ex-Bury man had a shot blocked inside the area after the Blues initially failed to clear from a freekick on the right.

Danny Haynes replaced Pablo Couñago, who had put in another fine home display, the fleet-footed winger getting straight into the action with a no-holds-barred, yet fair, challenge which left Callum Davidson requiring treatment for an ankle injury.

The England U19 international forced a good save from Lonergan soon after with a shot from a tight angle on the right.

Preston pulled a goal back from the spot with five minutes remaining. Sub Neil Mellor looked to have been going to ground before Neil Alexander even dived at his feet and the keeper appeared to make little if any contact with the ex-Liverpool man. However, referee Russell, who made perplexing decisions throughout, pointed straight to the spot.

The Town players were incensed at the decision, especially Jon Walters who confronted Mellor, but, despite consulting with his linesman, the referee stood by his original verdict. Mellor took the penalty himself and scored.

Haynes immediately hit a low ball across the Preston six-yard box but too early for Lee or Walters, prior to the fourth official's board revealing five minutes of injury time.

Town were rarely under any serious threat during time added on and might have had a penalty when Gary Roberts's shirt was pulled by Youl Mawene, however, the midfielder's somewhat theatrical fall persuaded referee Russell to show the former Accrington man a yellow card for a dive.

Another dominant home performance from the Blues and another three points won. Jon Walters again impressed, while Pablo Couñago gave the visitors' defence problems throughout. Owen Garvan and Tommy Miller ran the midfield for the most part, while Neil Alexander didn't have a save to make, Fabian Wilnis's first half efforts and the penalty aside.

Town continue to look like contenders at the right end of the division at home and Jim Magilton now has two weeks to work on getting a similar level of performance from his side when they travel to QPR.

Town: Alexander, Wright, Harding, De Vos, Garvan, Miller, Walters, Clarke (Roberts 72), Lee, Couñago (Haynes 80). Unused: Supple, Bruce, Legwinski. Att: 19,243.

Photo: Action Images

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