Paul Dickov scored the only goal

PAUL DICKOV marked his first start for Rovers on English soil with the only goal of the game in a very low-key pre-season friendly at Deepdale.

Played in brilliant sunshine and hot conditions, it was never going to be an end-to-classic.

As with Stockport on Wednesday night, Rovers started slowly, and but for better finishing by Preston's Northern Ireland international David Healy, the home side could have been two-up within the first ten minutes.

Rovers slowly took control of the game, with their better passing and possession proving to be the difference.

Following a free-kick to Rovers on 19 minutes, Lorenzo Amoruso struck a post with a sweetly struck shot, but Rovers didn't have long to wait before the goal came.

Barry Ferguson played a great ball out to Jonathan Stead on the left side, his shot was saved at the near post by Lonergan, but goal poacher Paul Dickov was to the rebound first to lift the ball over the stranded goalkeeper and into the back of the net.

Rovers nearly doubled their lead minutes later, when Yorke, Dickov and Stead combined, Stead's clever pass along the back line of the Preston defence almost found his strike partner Dickov, but former Rovers defender Marlon Broomes got a vital touch to take the ball away.

On 23 minutes Preston should have equalised, when from a corner to the back post, Cresswell headed the ball back, but Healy couldn't direct his near post head past Enckelman, the ball flashing wide of the post.

With five minutes to go of the first half remaining, Stead and Dickov combined once again, firstly Ferguson released a quick ball to Yorke, who turned and picked out Stead on the left hand side of the area, his first time ball found Dickov, but he couldn't get his shot on target.

And so to the second half, and once again, like the game against Stockport on Wednesday night, the raft of substitutions meant the game became fragmented and chances were at premium.

With David Healy substituted at half time, it was left to his replacement Simon Lynch to be the thorn in Rovers side. The Preston striker had more than one opportunity to get things back on level terms but on each occasion he failed to test Peter Enckelman in the Rovers goal.

His best chance came when Rovers defender Steven Reid went down injured, this left Lynch with the ball with just the Finnish international goalkeeper to beat, but he lifted the ball high over the goal and into the fans behind the nets.

That was Preston's best chance of the game, and from then on in Rovers were content to keep possession and to pass their way around the park.

They did have a few chances to increase their lead in the second half, clever play by Stead down the right set up Dickov in the centre, but defender Youl Mawane, signed yesterday by Craig Brown from Derby County, got the vital touch that stopped Dickov grabbing his second of the game.

Stead had a shot from the edge of the area by Lonergan, and so did substitute Lucas Neill.

So another game without Rovers conceding, meaning they'll be in good heart when they play for the first time in front of the home fans on Wednesday night with the visit of Sporting Lisbon to Ewood Park.

PRESTON: Lonergan, Skora, Lucketti (sub Davis 67 mins), Mawene, Broomes, P. Smith, McKenna (sub A. Smith 36 mins), O'Neil (sub McCorkmack 71 mins) Cresswell (sub Daley 82 mins), Healy (sub Lynch 46 mins).
Subs: Ward, Brown, Langmead.

ROVERS: Enckelman, Reid (sub Neill 75 mins), Amoruso, Johansson, Gray, Flitcroft (sub Emerton 75 mins), Ferguson, Matteo, Yorke, Stead, Dickov (sub Dickov 68 mins).
Subs: Neill, Yelldell, Emerton, Gresko.

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