PRESTON North End made it three wins in a row in an action-packed match that had enough incidents to last an entire season

Arriving in the elegant Buckinghamshire countryside on the back of a run of nine consecutive away matches without a win, Preston set about the task of trying to put matters right.

The early pressure came from Wycombe and De Souza missed a fine chance at the back post, shooting wide when he should have done better.

Preston's travelling army of supporters lifted the team and North End took control in midfield, but it was again De Souza who had a great chance to open the scoring, only to see his vicious volley brilliantly saved by Bobby Mimms.

Preston came storming back and Neil McDonald's free kick was curled around a defensive wall, only for the keeper to claw the ball around the post.

If the goalless first half was hectic, the second half was positively frantic.

Kevin Kilbane's sparkling run from the half-way line left players trailing in his wake and as he was about to shoot past the keeper, his legs were taken away by Crossley and the referee pointed to the spot and sent Crossley off.

When calm was restored, up stepped Lee Ashcroft to net from the spot.

Wycombe's ten men became nine five minutes later when Brown clashed with Ashworth and was sent off for a second bookable offence.

Surprising, it was with nine men that Wycombe played their best football and De Souza brought another fine save from Mimms and then shot over the crossbar as Preston were stretched at the back.

McDonald settled Preston down in midfield as North End again took control and Ashcroft had a good effort blocked and Rankine went close to wrapping it all up.

Then, in an amazing last five minutes, Wycombe came surging forward for an equaliser.

Evans went in very strongly on Wilcox and after consultation with the linesman, Evans was sent off, leaving Wycombe with only eight men.

North End hung on for the points to amazing scenes at the final whistle and the away hoodoo was finally consigned to history.

Preston manager Gary Peters was delighted to end the poor run of away results and see the continued move up the table.

He was particularly pleased that in a match which saw three Wycombe Wanders players sent off, Preston players didn't get a single booking.

But he didn't get carried away with winning and is now concentrating his mind on Saturday's important league fixture against Gillingham at Deepdale.

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