Rotherham United 1-2 Preston North End: Visitors close gap on play-off spots with victory
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Ched Evans' winner for Preston was his ninth goal of the season
Championship play-off chasers Preston North End earned a hard-fought victory at lowly Rotherham to close the gap on the top six.
A cool, close-range finish from Tom Cannon put the visitors ahead, only for Hakeem Odoffin to find a deserved equaliser with a near-post header from a corner soon after.
It took an excellent turn and finish from Ched Evans in first-half injury-time to seal Preston's first victory away from home in four games.
Cannon also went close to adding a third soon after the restart, scooping the ball over goalkeeper Viktor Johansson and against the upright, as Preston made it six games unbeaten to keep up their play-off challenge.
Preston move up 11th and to within five points of the play-off spots, although sixth-placed Blackburn can extend the gap when they host Reading on Wednesday.
Defeat leaves the Millers 20th in the table, with Blackpool's 6-1 win against QPR meaning they are now only five points above the relegation places.
Preston made three changes for the trip to South Yorkshire, with Evans, Robbie Brady and Alan Browne coming in.
Browne, who missed Saturday's win against Cardiff to be at the birth of his son, was quick to make impact on his return, sending in a deep cross for Brady to knock down for Cannon to slot home.
After Odoffin met a Shane Ferguson corner to level with a well-taken header, Preston thought they had immediately reclaimed the lead though Cannon, only for the goal to be waved away for offside.
Snow was coming down at the New York Stadium by the time Evans decisively found the bottom corner with his ninth goal in 12 league games.
A chipped effort onto the crossbar from Cannon was the closest either side came after the break, while Evans - who had his impact curtailed by injury - had a goalbound effort blocked and Bambo Diaby blazed an effort over the bar for the Lilywhites.
While Rotherham pressed for an equalised, they failed to seriously trouble Preston as Odoffin's 35th-minute equaliser proved to be their only shot on target in the whole match.
Preston 'not getting carried away' - reaction
Preston manager Ryan Lowe:
"The focus is the next game, we have got a small points target from now until the Middlesbrough game, we are going about it in a nice way. I'm not going to get too carried away as much as I would love to.
"This league is crazy, Blackpool won 6-1 tonight, so that's what the league is.
"I am not going to get too carried away, we are going to try and keep climbing up as much as we can and collecting points and if we feel like we have got any chance after that we will sit down and have a discussion amongst ourselves and see where it takes us.
"We just want to keep working hard and picking up points and see where it takes us."
Rotherham boss Boss Matt Taylor:
"We just weren't there with the intent to start the game. The goals are a frustrating aspect and shows a little bit of weakness through the spine of the team.
"We were overrun in certain parts. It comes down to quality and execution, something we have been short in for too long I am afraid.
"I am always honest, maybe too honest at times in terms of how I talk. I thought a few were a little bit flat tonight in terms of being scolded from the weekend, were a little bit low on the back of their performance or how the game panned out at the weekend."