Peterborough United 2-0 Preston North End

Manager Graham Westley put one over on former club Preston North End as League One Peterborough progressed to the fourth round of the FA Cup.

Posh went ahead early on when Martin Samuelsen struck into the bottom corner from 25 yards out.

Conor Washington, a reported target for Championship clubs, headed home Michael Smith's cross to double their lead.

Joe Garner hit the post for Preston, but that was the closest the visitors came to a response.

Preston had the majority of possession for much of the second half, also coming close when Eoin Doyle's close-range effort was kept out by Ben Alnwick and Tom Clarke had a header cleared off the line.

But victory over a side he was in charge of for 13 months will give Westley a boost as Posh also push for a place in the play-offs.

They started the better and after on-loan West Ham midfielder Samuelsen put them ahead, forward Lee Angol had a strike ruled out for a foul by Washington in the build-up.

Harry Beautyman then saw a volley tipped brilliantly over the bar by North End keeper Chris Kirkland.

But before the break Doyle should probably have had Simon Grayson's side level when he broke the offside trap but fired over when one-on-one.

Preston were made to pay when Washington, the subject of three failed bids in the last week, according to chairman Darragh MacAnthony, headed Smith's excellent delivery past the despairing Kirkland to seal his 13th goal in 14 matches.

Peterborough boss Graham Westley told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire: "We did the job we set out to do. We knew they hadn't conceded (many) in the first 15 and we knew it would be a blow to them if we managed to get that goal.

"It was a resilient performance, a controlled performance, excellent second goal, and from then on it was a matter of taking the game home.

"The challenge for Conor is not only does someone come in with a sensible enough bid that the club decides to agree terms, but does he accept the Championship, rather than the Premier League?

"The lad's such a high-quality player, with such a good goalscoring record, maybe he might let himself down in going to the Championship."

Preston manager Simon Grayson: "We created chances but we didn't show enough quality or desire to turn half chances into goal. We didn't test the keeper enough.

"When you get opportunities you need to take them and punish the opposition. We didn't do that today and it's disappointing."