Hartlepool 0-1 Preston

John Mousinho scored the only goal as Preston won their first league game in nine matches after beating Hartlepool.

After ending a 22-game winless run on Saturday with victory at Sheffield United, Pools went close when Antony Sweeney fired at Steve Simonsen.

They then conceded a penalty when Peter Hartley felled Stuart Beavon, however Scott Flinders acrobatically saved Nicky Wroe's strike.

But Mousinho headed in the visitors' winner from Jack King's corner.

Both sides lacked ideas in the second half, as Preston held on for their first league victory since 10 November.

VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Preston manager Graham Westley told BBC Radio Lancashire:

"We knew we needed to bounce back after a disappointing defeat [by Doncaster] at the weekend, and Hartlepool, buoyed by their win at Sheffield United, were never going to be easy opposition.

"We got a penalty [Preston's first since 27 March] and I think there was probably a lot of shockwaves through the football club, which maybe took the edge off us in the second half. We were still reeling from the shock.

"In the second half, we were organised and very difficult to break down - everything that you need to be when you're in the run that we've been in."