Jordan Hugill earns Preston a win over Wigan
Jordan Hugill's early deflected goal earned Preston a 1-0 win over fellow strugglers Wigan at Deepdale in the first league meeting between the north west rivals since 2005.
Hugill deflected in Aiden McGeady's strike for the game's only goal, enough to secure a third win of the season for a Preston side that moved to 18th in the Championship table.
But it was a fifth defeat in six for Gary Caldwell's Wigan, themselves spurning chances as Will Grigg failed to add to his five goals so far this term.
It was a third game in seven days for Preston, but it did not show as they flew out of the blocks and deservedly led after seven minutes as McGeady's shot from 20 yards was deflected in off Hugill - the striker claiming the goal.
Wigan adapted well to going behind and missed a huge chance to equalise after 15 minutes when Jordi Gomez's pinpoint cross found Grigg who headed over from four yards.
The pair combined again in the 40th minute, their roles reversed, as Grigg slipped in Gomez on the left edge of the area only for the Spaniard to slice his effort wide of the near post.
Just like the first half, it was Preston who came out the quickest in the second, as Alex Baptiste broke free of the Wigan defence inside the first minute but dragged an effort well wide from 18 yards.
Grigg then curled an effort from the edge of the area straight at Chris Maxwell, before Hugill found himself clean through on goal, and his right-footed strike was headed for the bottom corner before being superbly tipped wide by Adam Bogdan as the game became a frantic end-to-end encounter.
Buoyed by Tuesday's EFL Cup win over Bournemouth, North End had another chance to double their lead, but Tom Clarke could not keep a back-post header down from Paul Gallagher's cross.
The introduction of David Perkins pushed Nathan Byrne forward and it almost paid instant dividends for Wigan.
Grigg's cross found Byrne at the far post, whose first shot was saved by Maxwell before he brushed the outside of the post with the rebound.
And the visitors had further chances five minutes from time, with Gomez striking a 20-yard free-kick straight at Maxwell before Ben Pearson missed the chance to double the advantage at the other end - firing wide from 12 yards.
Source : PA
Source: PA