MX23RW : Saturday, April 3 01:15:02| >> :120:26886:26886:

Result: Wycombe 1-0 Preston: Ryan Tafazolli heads home in crucial win

Result: Wycombe 1-0 Preston: Ryan Tafazolli heads home in crucial win
© Reuters
North End have now won just once in their last seven matches.

Wycombe secured a vital three points in their bid for Championship survival with a 1-0 win over Preston.

In blustery conditions, Ryan Tafazolli's header proved the difference for a Chairboys side who controlled proceedings to earn their sixth victory of the season, while Preston's poor run now stands at one win in seven.

Both sides made two changes from their last outings, with Wycombe eyeing a second win against Preston in the space of three months after their 4-1 FA Cup victory earlier this year.

The opening exchanges belonged to the hosts and Tafazolli showed a glimpse of what was to come as he rose to meet two Joe Jacobson corners. After planting the first effort wide, his second was on target and needed a hand from Daniel Iversen to touch it over the bar.

Both Anis Mehmeti and Uche Ikpeazu then came close for Wycombe, Ikpeazu latching onto a looping Curtis Thompson header only to see his shot kept out by Iversen.

From the resulting corner, it was third time lucky for Tafazolli as he once again climbed highest to send a firm header across goal and into the net to break the deadlock just before the half-hour mark.

The goal saw Wycombe grow in confidence and Garath McCleary's shot from outside the area was pushed wide by Iversen as they looked to stretch their lead.

At the other end, Preston struggled to carve out any clear-cut chances of their own, with their biggest opportunity coming after David Stockdale flapped at a Preston corner before the ball was cleared.

After a first half in which his side mustered just one shot on target, Preston manager Alex Neil opted for a triple substitution at half-time.

And with the wind behind them in the second half, the changes saw Preston show more attacking intent and Ched Evans curled a shot narrowly over just before the hour mark.

Wycombe continued to create chances of their own and when Dominic Gape found some space down the right, his ball across goal had to be dealt with by Sepp Van Den Berg to avoid a tap-in for Ikpeazu.

Preston were beginning to find their rhythm and came close to an equaliser as two substitutes combined, Brad Potts dragging a shot into the side-netting following a neat one-two with Anthony Gordon.

The closing stages were frenetic and end-to-end, with Wycombe substitute Nnamdi Ofoborh dispossessing Preston captain Alan Browne only to shoot straight at Iversen from the edge of the area.

There was time for another Preston chance but Potts could only blast wide from a Evans header, and the Chairboys held on for a victory which keeps their dreams of a great escape alive.

ID:439112: cacheID:439112:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:5131:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Did you know...?
Bournemouth's Arnaut Danjuma celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates on March 6, 2021
Read Next:
Saturday's Championship predictions including Bournemouth vs. Barnsley
>

rhs 2.0
Todays Game Header Right
Premier League
Championship
La Liga
Serie A
Bundesliga
Ligue 1
Eredivisie
Primeira Liga
Copa del Rey
League Two
Scottish Championship
Scottish League One
Scottish League Two
Turkish Super Lig
Belgian Pro League
Greek Superleague
Swiss Super League
Russian Premier League
Ukrainian Premier League
NIFL Premiership
League of Ireland Premier
Belarusian Premier League
Segunda Division
2.Bundesliga
Ligue 2
Copa Diego Maradona
Uruguayan Primera Division
Liga MX
Australian A-League
J1 League
Women's Super League
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Norwich CityNorwich39259557282984
2Watford39239756263078
3Swansea CitySwansea38209945301569
4Brentford371911765392668
5Barnsley39198125043765
6Reading391891253421163
7Bournemouth3817111058382062
8Cardiff CityCardiff3916101355381758
9Middlesbrough39168154742556
10Millwall391316103936355
11Stoke CityStoke391413124442255
12Queens Park RangersQPR381411134243-153
13Luton TownLuton38148163143-1250
14Bristol City39154203952-1349
15Blackburn RoversBlackburn391210175043746
16Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest391112163138-745
17Preston North EndPreston39136204050-1045
18Derby CountyDerby391110182942-1343
19Huddersfield TownHuddersfield37119174152-1142
20Birmingham CityBirmingham391011182950-2141
21Coventry CityCoventry38912173251-1939
22Rotherham UnitedRotherham35105203848-1035
23Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds38108202848-2032
24Wycombe WanderersWycombe3979232661-3530

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Transfer Talk Daily
Match previews - twice weekly
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
Ultra close-up image of Kevin De Bruyne [NOT FOR USE IN ARTICLES]Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!