PRESTON's promotion credentials were severely dented at Deepdale as travelling Gillingham pulled off a shock victory to knock David Moyes' side off the top of Division Two.

Carl Asaba, returning to the Gills' side after a nightmare injury layoff, scored twice as his side rode their luck to pick up an unexpected three points. North End stated brightly, Jon Macken crashing the ball against the crossbar from fully 25 yards, but it was the visitors who got the breaks, especially after surviving two North End penalty appeals.

The first came on 58 minutes, Ty Gooden's cross met by the head of Asaba, whose bullet effort stunned the home crowd into silence.

Then with 21 minutes left on the clock, Asaba wrapped up the win with a left foot strike past the bewildered Tepi Moilanen.

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