Preston 0-2 Stoke City: Ex-PNE boss Alex Neil wins on first return to Deepdale

Stoke's second goal from Tyrese Campbell secured the Potters' third away league win of the season

Stoke City made it back-to-back wins as Potters boss Alex Neil enjoyed victory at Deepdale on his first return to Lancashire to face his old club Preston North End.

After a goalless first half, Stoke won a deserved three points thanks to two goals in the space of eight second-half minutes.

On-loan Southampton midfielder Will Smallbone got the first on 58 minutes, finding the bottom left corner for his first goal for the Potters, created by Dwight Gayle.

Morgan Fox passed down the left flank, Gayle's quick turn and pace put him in the clear - and his hard, low left-foot cross was met by Smallbone's unerring first-time finish from 10 yards out.

Eight minutes later they then doubled their lead when Lewis Baker's long ball over the top sent Tyrese Campbell clear - and he kept his cool, shifted the ball onto his left foot and he threaded a superb finish between the two covering defenders inside the bottom left corner for only his second goal of the season.

Ryan Lowe's North End failed to get a single effort on target as they suffered their third home defeat in their past five games at Deepdale.

Former North End manager Alex Neil was back at Deepdale for the first time since leaving in March 2021

Neil's much-improved Potters have now picked up seven points out of a possible nine since their bruising 4-0 home defeat by Watford less than a fortnight ago.

They climb into the top half of the Championship table for the first time this season ahead of Tuesday's home date with Rotherham United.

But the only downside was luckless summer signing Gayle's goal drought going on. Although he made the first goal and put in another hard-working display, the closest he came was between the two Stoke goals when he glanced just wide from Campbell's delivery.

It leaves him still without a goal in 42 appearances since his last for Newcastle United, a late winner against West Bromwich Albion on 12 December, 2020 - 672 days ago.

Gayle did, however, play a part in Smallbone's goal as he sped down the left before squaring for him to side-foot home from 12 yards.

While Stoke are up to 11th, North End's defeat slipped Lowe's side to 12th, level on points with the Potters - and now with a goal against column into double figures, with 10 in 15 games.

They have now scored just twice in eight league games at Deepdale this season, however.

Their next two games are both on the road, at Huddersfield and next Saturday's Lancashire derby at Bloomfield Road, Blackpool.

Preston boss Ryan Lowe told BBC Radio Lancashire:

"There was a pivotal moment just before half time when we thought we should have had a penalty when it hit Phil Jagielka's arm. It's a different game if that had been given.

"Until they got the goals, we were well in the game. But we didn't really create enough chances to win it.

"We were beaten by the better team. We just have to debrief it and move on.

"There will be some positives to take but not many. The biggest would be young Finlay Cross-Adair making his debut at 17."

Stoke City boss Alex Neil told BBC Radio Stoke:

"We were good value for that. It was a proper team performance. We know we have quality in the squad, but it's all about having the organisation and showing the right work ethic - and in the last two games we've more than done that.

"The first goal came from Dwight Gayle. From his movement off the centre-back and to then get in behind him - and then the cutback for Will Smallbone.

"Then Tyrese showed a real bit of quality for the second goal. He had two defenders in front of him. but he shaped them up, bent it outside them and them and gave the keeper no chance.

"From that moment we played extremely professionally and could have scored more. Definitely another step in the right direction."