Preston North End 1-0 Blackpool: Cameron Archer gives Lilywhites derby win
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Cameron Archer has scored six goals since his loan move from Aston Villa in January
Cameron Archer's goal gave Preston a West Lancashire derby win over Blackpool in a mid-table Championship tussle at Deepdale.
Andrew Hughes headed Ben Whiteman's corner against the top of the crossbar and Brad Potts' deflected cross also found the same piece of the frame for the hosts before the only goal of the game.
Archer's crisp strike put Preston ahead deep into 11 minutes of first-half stoppage time following a serious injury to Blackpool goalkeeper Dan Grimshaw.
It was enough to earn Preston only a second win in eight games as they climb to 13th and leapfrog Blackpool who drop to 16th.
With both sides knowing victory would just about keep alive their outside chances of making the play-offs, the game had extra spice as Preston fans celebrated a first home league win over Blackpool since 1999.
The first half was marred by the injury to Grimshaw who was stretchered off following 10 minutes of treatment after racing out to collect Alan Browne's through-ball and colliding with Archer.
Preston's struggle to find the net this season, having scored 41 goals in 40 league matches, ultimately saw them slip out of serious play-off contention with a run of five wins in 17 league matches.
And they looked out of luck again until Archer finished off a quick counter-attack with a shot across replacement keeper Chris Maxwell into the far corner.
The Tangerines improved after the break and bossed much of the possession, but they struggled to carve out chances and tamely fell to back-to-back defeats.
Preston North End boss Ryan Lowe told BBC Radio Lancashire:
"I'm pleased with the result, I'm pleased for the fans. I thought our first half was excellent.
"In the second half it was a little bit different, they changed shape a couple of times and we had to make sure we dealt with it.
"Overall I'm pleased with the performance and pleased with the win.
"I told the players this [crowd] is what I want to achieve. We want to make Deepdale packed out to the rafters every other week, but it's down to us. If we're playing well they will come and support us."
Blackpool head coach Neil Critchley told BBC Radio Lancashire:
"I thought generally, again, we were the better team. The game's been decided by a moment of quality that they produced and we didn't. Unfortunately I've said that too many times this season and I'm saying it again tonight.
"Between both boxes we had control of the game, particularly in the second half, but we've not done enough with our play, and when we did get around the box we failed. Poor choice, poor quality.
"It was a horrible situation to see Grimmy (Dan Grimshaw) come off so early. When's he's down for so long you're trying to get some information - I almost walked onto the pitch myself because I was really concerned about him. But he's awake at hospital and responsive so that's positive news so far."