Preston came from a goal behind to end a run of six winless games as they produced one of the narrow football results of the weekend in the Championship. Loanee from Everton Tom Cannon scored the game-winning goal in the 57th minute, only moments after Daniel Johnson equalized from the penalty spot. Substitute Robbie Brady was sent off in stoppage time for a second booking, but Preston’s ten men held off late Latics pressure to secure three crucial points. Wigan dominated the first half and merited their lead before the break, which came after Greg Cunningham turned Christ Tiehi’s shot into his own net.
Ryan Lowe’s team came back from the break rejuvenated and, helped by some excellent goalkeeping from Freddie Woodman, did enough to inflict a first defeat on Wigan manager Shaun Maloney, who had started his tenure with six points from four games. Maloney took over a team that was low on confidence and out of shape after Kolo Toure’s 59-day tenure. After early Preston efforts from Cannon and Ryan Ledson, it was the outstanding Tiehi who helped Wigan grab a 27th-minute lead.
Tiehi took advantage of Ledson’s midfield blunder and rushed forward with a fast exchange of passes with Ashley Fletcher, overcoming a narrow angle in the box with an accurate shot across Woodman. Cunningham fought valiantly to save his squad, but the defender’s touch sent the ball dribbling across the line. Callum Lang twice tried to extend the visitors’ lead, with one bouncing effort comfortably collected by Woodman and another from 18 yards slipping just wide. Preston, who had not won in their previous four matches, appeared to be lacking in creativity and inspiration – but Johnson set about rewriting the story soon after the interval.
The attacker dashed into the box to receive Cannon’s deft return pass, forcing goalkeeper Ben Amos into an ill-advised challenge. Johnson took the ball from Troy Parrott, who had converted a penalty against Luton Town in Preston’s most recent home game, and finished into the bottom corner from 12 yards for his first goal of the season.
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