RICARDO Fuller blasted away concerns about his 'good' knee with 29th minutes strike which sealed the points for PNE.

Fuller, who missed Wednesday's win at Forest because of concerns over the knee he has not had surgical work on, finished off a Graham Alexander free kick by knocking it past Paul Heald.

But credit should go to Michael Keane, who deflected Alexander's free kick into the path of Fuller after it appeared to be floating wide of goal.

The free-kick in question came about after Fuller was felled by Darren Holloway after breaking through clear on goal. Holloway received his marching orders from referee Carl Boyeson, who has a red card rate of one every two games.

Preston should have gone on to get three or four more - a fact not missed by Craig Brown in his post-match press conference.

On 32 minutes, Healy hit the ball at Heald from close range and when the ball rolled back to him, he shot back at the keeper who managed to keep a grasp of it.

Fuller combined well with Healy to set up Michael Keane early in the second half, but the Irishman fired over the bar from 15 yards.

Eddie Lewis, back from injury, first set up Fuller and then Keane - both times with crosses from thw wing - but both failed to convert.

And on 86 minutes Eddie Lewis's volley from a Graham Alexander cross would have been a scorching second goal had it not been for a classy save from Heald.

The win is the fifth in seven for PNE - and takes North End up to 10th in the league.

PNE 1

WIMBLEDON 0