GRAHAM Alexander proved a week is a long time in football as he completed a transformation from villain to hero.

Heckled as he left the pitch following his sending-off at Bradford seven days ago, he got a standing ovation when substituted in the second half at home against Rotherham.

But then again, he had knocked away a penalty which sealed the game for Preston and set up Brian O'Neil for a goal which will be talked about around Deepdale for a good while yet.

That, and an overall excellent performance ensured he was applauded off the pitch - despite being the man who kept Darren Byfield onside for Rotherham's goal on the stroke of half-time.

After an early scare for Preston, when Byfield, a former Preston loan player, forced Jonathan Gould to save from 25 yards with a daisycutter effort, it was North End all the way.

And with their first real chance of the game, Preston forged ahead. Ricardo Fuller placed the ball to Michael Keane, who passed it on to Richard Cresswell who confidently blasted home from 12 yards.

Only excellent work from Rotherham's Mike Pollitt stopped Fuller from doubling the advantage on 27 minutes, after the Jamaican had turned and weaved his way into his box.

But Byfield pulled Rotherham level on 45 minutes when he headed home Carl Robison's outside-area effort from John Mullin's corner. The cry of off-side was an optimistic one, given Alexander had failed to move away from Gould's line.

Unlike last week - when Preston seemed to lose all confidence after the equaliser - North End probed and pushed to regain the lead.

On 55 minutes, they did, when Michael Keane saw his shot blocked by Pollitt, only for Fuller to pounce to get on the score-sheet for the third game in a row by forcing the ball home.

Rotherham didn't wake up and nine minutes later Cresswell charged down the left-hand side of the field, cutting into the area only to be up-ended by a desperate Shaun Barker. A red card for Barker and a penalty for North End, which Alexander blasted home into the left-hand corner.

And Alexander can take much of the credit for the fourth goal, pinpointing Brian O'Neil in space. From 18-yards, O'Neil unleashed a superb volley which left Pollitt standing.

Pollitt went on to pull off a succession of fine saves as North End looked to make it five, with one stunning save in particular denying Fuller the chance to double his tally.

It didn't matter for North End. With the final whistle came a roar which suggests that confidence among the fans is growing - and certainly from the performance today, the players on the pitch seem confident once again. And after scoring eight goals in five days, who wouldn't be?

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