North End are fighting a losing battle in this league when it comesto comparative spending. The Preston squad cost a lot less to buy collectively than the Newcastle striker who made the difference between the sides.
Preston were in the games for long periods being comeptive and restricting the visitors to minimal opportunities. The first half went by without either keeper being signnificantly troubled.
After the break the game changed when Newcastle attacked on the break. A crossfield ball was aimed towards Mitrovic. Cunningham could only get the top of his head onto the ball which meant the ball fell nicely into the path of the striker.
On another day Cunningham may well have cut out the ball but as it was Mitrovic descended on goal to fire past Maxwell. It was teh first real chgance of the game.
The lead was soon doubled when Mitrovic headed a cross towards goal. The keeper saved and should have pushed the ball away. Unfortunately, Maxwell parried the ball only for Mitovic to steam in and blast home from a yard out.
On a different day Preston may have still been level going into the final quarter but it is fine margins which dictate matches in this league. Beckford and Vermijl were thrown on and both had an impact.
Beckford slotted home a left wing cross to narrow the lead. Robinson was then pushed in the box but the referee who favoured the away side on all of the big decisions gave no penalty despite the blatant foul.
Vermijl then hit the post in the last minute of stoppage time from an ambitious overhead kick. It wasn't to be for Preston but they come out of a run of games against the top four in a healthy position in mid-table but now need to kick on in November.