A game between two sides expected to challenge for promotion was for the most part turgid and they both have plenty to work on, upon the evidence of this match.
With the half drawing to a close the game exploded into life, having previously been something of a midfield battle. Dickson Etuhu put Preston ahead five minutes from the break as Ricardo Fuller got to the byline and pulled the ball back for the oncoming midfielder.
Etuhu hit the ball into the ground and it bobbled home to the delight of the visiting faithful.
Warren Barton (pictured) was at fault for the goal as he was turned inside out by Fuller and three minutes into injury time, in attempting to get the ball off Richard Creswell the ex-Newcastle defender wrestled his opponent to the ground.
Creswell was booked for timewasting but Barton saw red for an excellent judo throw and John Gregory's team was down to ten men.
At the beginning of the second half Preston should have made it two, but with a couple of men to pick out an errant pass eluded the stretching Fuller and the danger was averted.
This was not the case in the 78th minute as substitute David Healy converted a counter-attack with an impressive curling shot past Mart Poom to cap a good display.
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Derby County v Preston North End
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