Back in business

Preston's injury crisis grew as Basham, Nogan and Rankine were all ruled out and Jason Harris came in to partner Jon Macken up front.

The match got off to a frantic start as Macken almost scored inside the first minute.

Walsall couldn't clear a teasing cross from David Eyres and when the ball bounced to Macken he sent in a powerful header that Walker got a glove to, to send the ball high into the air only for it to drop onto the crossbar and away to safety.

Still Preston pushed forward and Ludden and Eyres were in fine form down the left putting Walsall under pressure.

Eyres showed some lovely skill and control to beat Marsh and he put over a perfect cross which Harris hit goalwards but Walker made another fine save.

Walsall could hardly get out of their own half and again Eyres floated in a fine cross which Harris headed inches wide.

Walsall at last settled down and started to look dangerous with some fast wing play from Darren Wrack. He set up a chance for Henry but he shot narrowly wide.

Then it was striker Andy Rammell, bursting into the box on the left, but the ball took an unkind bobble as he shot and the ball went high and wide.

Back came Preston with some neat football and Eyres and Appleton linked well to send Ludden into the area on the left and his scorching shot was only a fraction wide.

Despite the North End pressure, Walsall survived it all up to half time and the worry was that they would break away and score.

Preston dominated the early stages of the second half and Eyres sent a free kick just over the crossbar.

Walsall's massive support was silenced as Preston won a series of corners and free kicks but Roper and Viveash were performing heroics at the heart of the Walsall defence.

Then Deepdale went wild as North End took the lead on the hour. A high ball was played into the box for Sean Gregan and the Preston skipper appeared to lose the ball.

But he battled back with Roper in a goalmouth tangle and got the touch to steer the ball past Walker into the net.

Minutes later it was almost two as Eyres had a powerful shot blocked and then Harris shot wide.

Walsall raised their game with Steiner and Henry looking dangerous and Jackson and Murdock were called upon to make good defensive clearances.

Then, a moment of madness reduced Walsall to ten men, Jason Brissett, unhappy that he hadn't been given a free kick for a foul by Graham Alexander, punched the Preston player. The referee saw it, up went the red card and he was off. Preston went for the kill with another series of raids on the Walsall goal but they couldn't find a way through a well organised back four.

Walsall threw caution to the wind in the closing stages in a bid to rescue a point and there were some heart-stopping moments as North End had some serious defending to do.

Still, they held on to the priceless one goal lead and the roar that greeted the final whistle was deafening as the players went off to a standing ovation.

Preston now go to Millwall on Saturday while Walsall have a none too-easy trip to Lincoln who are desperate for points to avoid relegation.

North End were magnificent and now the race is on to get the injured players fit again. However, anyone who didn't play in this match will have some trouble getting back in, such was the all round quality of the performance.

David Moyes said: "We were excellent tonight - total commitment from everybody, a good team performance."

He went on: "We are still in with a slight chance of automatic promotion and we will have a go for it."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.