Preston 0 Bolton 2

BOLTON super sub Michael Ricketts struck again to boost his side's promotion bid and harm Preston's in the high noon showdown at Deepdale.

Rickets, a £250,000 buy from Walsall during the summer, took his tally to 15 goals this season -- nine off the bench -- when he headed home Gareth Farrelly's cross on 84 minutes after entering the fray just one minute earlier.

While it took second placed Bolton to six wins in seven games it consigned North End to their fourth defeat in five matches and they have started to slip down the league.

"We are lacking confidence at the moment," admitted Preston boss David Moyes, who saw his side go behind to an eighth minute 20-yard effort from Farrelly.

"The early goal put us on a bit of a downer and we were still on a downer following the Sheffield United defeat, after losing when we were two goals up.

"You could see the confidence drain from us.

"I have no complaints about the result. We didn't play well and we are just beginning to find out what this division is all about.

"We need to get back to clean sheets. I have not been pleased with what we have been doing defensively in recent weeks," admitted Moyes, whose side have conceded 11 goals in their last five matches.

Bolton chief Sam Allardyce used to be part of a strong North End defence -- but was glad to be masterminding a way to get past his former club from the bench.

"It was a master substitution by the manager," joked the Wanderers boss about the late introduction of Ricketts.

"Michael doesn't like being on the bench. He was the number one striker but he's had a virus and he's not at full fitness.

"He's important from the bench and from the start. He can score with an array of goals -- with his head or tap in -- that is why he will make the 20 goal mark this season."

Moyes will be hoping his new striker David Healy, who should complete his £1.5m permanent move to Deepdale from Manchester United today, can make such a contribution at Preston and lift them from their present rough patch.

He came off the bench on the 22nd minute after top scorer Jon Macken went off with a back injury and the 21-year-old came closest to scoring in the 80th minute when his shot was cleared off the line by Paul Warhurst.

"Healy is a good addition. He was on the bench as he'd only joined us on Friday and hadn't trained with us. He also took a knock.

"We were just beginning to get closest to the goal before we conceded a poor second goal," added Moyes.

But Bolton should have had the game sewed up before this with both Bo Hansen and Dean Holdsworth wasting great opportunities when clean through on goal but the Dane chipped over and David Lucas denied Holdsworth.

"If I was being super critical we are beginning to miss too many chances for me and because of this we had to hang on and rely on our experienced defence," said Allardyce.

"We knew Preston would be edgy as they have lost three of their last four games so we needed to score an early goal and we did that.

"We knew once we got one that was it as we have enjoyed four clean sheets in five games and have not been conceding goals."