Preston North End 0-1 Stoke City: Potters beat 10-man Preston for first league win
- Published
Lee Gregory's opener for Stoke was the Potters' first goal in the league since the final day of last season
Stoke City won for the first time in the league this season as they beat 10-man Preston North End.
The Lilywhites were forced to play three-quarters of the game a man down after Tom Barkhuizen was sent off for a sliding challenge on Morgan Fox as the pair went for a loose ball.
Stoke finally got their first league goal of the season 18 minutes later as Lee Gregory converted from close range after Jon Obi Mikel's low ball to the far post.
Michael O'Neill's side almost doubled their lead in audacious fashion with 15 minutes left as Steven Fletcher hit the bar with a rabona-style flick.
The win lifts Stoke up to 15th place in the Championship table on four points, while Preston slip to 19th with just one draw from their opening three league matches.
Preston started the game strongest and could have been ahead twice inside the first 10 minutes as Jayden Stockley volleyed just over the bar before the striker had a header turned wide by the Stoke defence.
The game turned on Barkhuizen's red card which proved controversial as the winger appeared to have slipped as he went for the ball, making it look as though he intentionally went in with two feet.
It took Stoke until the 40th minute to break Preston down as Gregory appeared at the far post to powerfully convert from close range with their first attempt on target in the league since the opening day.
Preston were indebted to goalkeeper Declan Rudd for not being further behind as he saved superbly from Sam Clucas from close range just after the hour, having made smart saves from Clucas and James McClean a few minutes earlier.
Preston twice went close to levelling in the final five minutes, but Adam Davies kept out Sean Maguire and Stockley as the hosts tried in vain to get a point.
Preston manager Alex Neil:
"I wasn't sure about the red card. I've watched it back and he is running full speed, goes to slow down and loses his footing and slides into the lad, it was almost a slide tackle.
"It is not meant, it was next to their dugout and they were up appealing, the lad was screaming and rolling around.
"It changed the course of the game. We were getting crosses into the box, we were a good threat. Everything was set up how we hoped and we thought we could go on and win it."
Stoke boss Michael O'Neill:
"We were wasteful in the second half and when you're against 10 men it is difficult at times because teams commit bodies forward and you have to deal with long balls.
"It was important for us to try and win the game on the back of last week's defeat. We have four points from three games now and if we can take three points next week it will have been a good start.
"The red card, I thought it was a poor challenge. He doesn't really need to make that challenge and you can't tackle anymore. They are the rules."