Preston North End v Portsmouth: Spirited Blues fall to frustrating defeat to play-off hopefuls

Pompey’s impressive four-game unbeaten Championship run came to a frustrating end on Saturday afternoon.

The Blues fell to a bitterly-disappointing 1-0 defeat to Preston North End, despite controlling large parts of the proceedings at Deepdale.

Alfie Devine’s header on the stroke of half-time proved to be the difference, in a game of very-low chances in the north west.

There was no Callum Lang in the North End squad, who made the move to Deepdale on deadline day.

It was a fairly quiet start to proceedings in Lancashire, with Mousinho’s men the stronger starters of the two sides.

The Blues controlled the game for large parts of the opening stages, winning three corners and holding 70 per cent of possession in the first 20 minutes.

Despite managing the play, the visitors were frustrated, though, and were unable to break apart a sturdy Preston defence.

However, the game sprung into life on the half on the half-hour market, with Pompey feeling aggrieved they weren’t awarded a spot kick.

Ebou Adams’ header forward was chased down by Adrian Segecic, who got in behind Jordan Storey in the box before being bundled down.

Referee Adam Herczeg waved away any appeals for a penalty, which - on replay - looked like a clear foul on the Aussie.

That incident sprung Heckingbottom’s side into life, who began to work their way back into the contest before the break.

The Lilywhites did find a breakthrough on the stroke of half-time, with the unmarked Devine meeting Adrija Vukcevic’s cross.

The Spurs loanee’s looping header was beyond the fully-stretched Nicolas Schmid, who could do very little to meet the effort.

Pompey did, though, almost respond in some style. Andre Dozzell received the ball on the edge of the box before firing a venomous low-driven shot into the bottom corner. Former Blues loanee Dai Cornell did brilliantly to deny the midfielder.

It was more of the same in the second half from Mousinho’s men, who were in complete control.

But they continued to be frustrated by North End’s hardened defences, which remained solid throughout the afternoon.

Despite their pressure, Pompey were presented with a brilliant opportunity to level on the 70-minute mark when substitute Marlon Pack’s long-throw fell kindly for Alli in the box.

The Luton loanee, however, completely miss-cued his shot, allowing Preston to clear their marks.

The visitors remained on top and could’ve found a leveller with 10 minutes to play. It was pinball in the North End penalty area following Segecic’s low-driven cross across the face of goal. Ebou Adams, Makenzie Kirk and Connor Ogilvie were all scrambling in the six-yard box before Cornell collected the loose ball.

The pressure was kept on by Pompey in the dying stages, with Kirk firing over from close range.

The chances kept coming in stoppage time, with John Swift’s corner met by the leaping Ogilvie, who rose highest but his header was well-saved by Cornell on the line.

The defeat leaves Mousinho’s men just one point above the relegation zone and brings an end to their unbeaten run.