Preston North End 1-0 Walsall

Daniel Johnson has scored twice for Preston since joining on loan from Aston Villa last month

Preston closed the gap on the automatic promotion places with a win over Walsall, their fourth straight League One victory without conceding a goal.

The game's only goal came on 19 minutes when Chris Humphrey got free down the right, pulling back for Daniel Johnson to smash in his second goal in a week.

After the break Paul Gallagher rattled the bar with a long-range drive, before Tom Clarke hit the post with a header.

Goalkeeper Sam Johnstone kept out a corner to secure Preston's victory.

The Lilywhites were out of the blocks quickly, Walsall goalkeeper Richard O'Donnell being forced into smart early saves from Gallagher's volley and Joe Garner's header.

Walsall, who were missing centre-half Paul Downing (thigh strain) and striker Tom Bradshaw (flu), had plenty of possession.

But their eight-game unbeaten away record came to an end, while North End move to within three points of second place with a game in hand.

Walsall manager Dean Smith told BBC WM 95.6:

"I feel aggrieved. The goal that eventually beat us should never have stood. There was a clear foul on Rico Henry in the build-up and now the lad is in hospital awaiting an x-ray after his shoulder popped out.

"We started slowly and were poor on the ball during the first half. It's not like us to take so long to get going, but we improved after the break and controlled it.

"It's disappointing. There were too many five out of ten performances. Not enough seven and eights. But there were positives to take. Romaine Sawyers did well when he came on and showed me how much he wants to be out there playing."