Daniel Jebbison of Preston North End celebratesplaceholder image
Daniel Jebbison of Preston North End celebrates | Getty Images
Daniel Jebbison and Jordan Storey were on to score sheet for the Lilywhites
It took a while for the early kick-off to get going. Harrison Armstrong glanced a header wide of the far corner, from Pol Valentin’s clipped cross. Aside from that, attempts on goal were in short supply with Daniel Iversen catching routinely from Greg Leigh’s headed effort. Ole Romeny struck well over from range before Alfie Devine sent his swerving shot high and wide from 20 yards.
Thierry Small had picked up some promising positions, high up the left flank, in the opening exchanges. And when North End recycled a corner back out to the number 26, his delivery to the back post was asking to be attacked. Jordan Storey rose highest and directed a brave, powerful header home - underneath the legs of Oxford shot-stopper Jamie Cumming.
Paul Heckingbottom - watching from the gantry as his three-match touchline ban commenced - saw his side enjoy a strong spell after their opener. North End were unable to make a 3v1 counter attack pay off, though, while Alfie Devine saw a goal-bound drive - from a well worked corner routine - blocked by team mate Lewis Dobbin. Preston then had to withstand late pressure from the hosts.
Frustratingly, that all stemmed from Odel Offiah’s foul throw mid-way inside the North End half. Will Vaulks hurled a long-throw into the PNE box and Gary Rowett’s men managed to keep the visitors pinned in from there. Harrison Armstrong had to clear on the goal line, with his head, twice in quick succession. A smart reflex save was then required from Iversen, to tip Ciaron Brown’s bullet header over the crossbar.
Referee James Linington’s half-time whistle was met with frustrated boos from sections of the home faithful, but there will have been a touch of relief for the Lilywhites. It took just four minutes of second half action for their position to be strengthened, though, with a fine team move yielding a second goal of the afternoon. Daniel Jebbison was the man to stick it away but there was much to admire.
Alfie Devine and Lewis Dobbin combined exquisitely on the right of the box, with a neat give-and-go resulting in the former playing the ball across goal for Jebbison to slot home first time. Not long after, Devine was dancing through the Oxford half and had the chance to slide Dobbin in, but went alone and could only muster a tame effort at goal. And just a matter of seconds later, Oxford were back in the contest.
You rarely pick up comfortable wins in the Championship but after Jebbison’s strike, this appeared to have the potential of being one. Rowett’s men has other ideas though. When Andrew Hughes had his pocket picked on the right, Oxford worked the ball infield and Brian De Keersmaecker did well to evade the challenge of Armstrong. The chance to strike presented itself and the Belgian thundered his effort into the roof of the net.
It was absolutely game on after that as the U’s continued to look a threat from direct balls into the Preston box, whether it be from corners, long-throws or crosses. A fizzed strike from Will Vaulks had to be pushed away from danger by Iversen and not long after that, Will Lankshear struck the woodwork with a close range header. North End struggled to create opportunities to restore their two-goal cushion but with plenty of experience introduced from the bench, the points were secured.
Attendance: 10,379 (1,029 away) PNE starting XI: Iversen; Offiah, Storey, Hughes, Valentin, Whiteman (c), Armstrong (Thordarson 85’), Small (Vukcevic 67’), Devine (Thompson 67’), Dobbin (Smith 67’), Jebbison (Frokjaer. PNE unused subs: Walton, Nolan, Potts, Keane.
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