Preston North End 1 Portsmouth 0: match report

Preston compounded the problems for Portsmouth at Deepdale where a 17th-minute Paul Hayes strike secured a much needed first victory of the season. Pressure had been mounting for manager Darren Ferguson following successive defeats by Doncaster and Swansea with six goals conceded.  Related ArticlesLeeds United 3 Millwall 1Davids signs for Crystal PalaceCrystal Palace out of administrationAgents fees rise in Football LeagueMotherwell want cash from Cardiff after Bellamy moveSport on televisionHowever, relief came with Hayes exposing wretched Portsmouth defending as Aaron Mokoena failed to cut out a cross from the right by Billy Jones. While the home side dominated much of a dire encounter between two of the Championship's less distinguished contenders they failed to make territorial superiority pay although their narrow victory enabled them to move off bottom place. Portsmouth lacking pattern or purpose had little to offer going forward and home success would have been more emphatic with better second half finishing. Hayes fluffed an opportunity to double his tally and Manchester United teenager Joshua King was denied on three occasions, two of them by the Portsmouth goalkeeper, Jamie Ashdown who was outstanding for the visitors.

Source: Telegraph