DOUBLE CHANGE PAYS DIVIDENDS FOR NEIL
keeper George Long, who had no chance.
Four minutes later, Browne and fellow substitute Jayden Stockley combined to carve out the winner, a goal described as “sensational” by boss Neil.
He said: “I put on the two subs in Stockley and Browne, and a great turn by Jayden, with a great finish by Alan did it for us.
“Brownie’s goal is just what I want from him – running the channels, getting in there and getting goals. The move for that strike was quality.
“We play at West Brom and Fulham next week and we are looking forward to it. We know the top sides don’t like playing us.”
Neil added: “We needed to show more bravery and more risk-taking than in the first half, and that’s what they did. At half-time, I told them if they play well enough, often enough, the results will come.
“To be honest, I thought it was a penalty when Brownie went down but I’m not so sure that Darnell’s was. Maybe the ref had the first decision in his mind to then give the second call”.
Hull boss Grant Mccann had no doubt the penalty was soft, saying: “The first goal by them was a mistake by the ref. Fisher went down very easily. I think he actually fell.
“The ref got sucked in and gave it after turning down a call a minute earlier, and their second goal should have been defended by us.
“We are on a bad run, but we are close to coming back. Wilks is a good player and his three goals prove that.
It’s just a pity that he can’t play against his own club Barnsley on Wednesday.”
Wilks topped off a great first half by heading home a Callum Elder cross, due reward for his efforts.
Much of the early menace came from Hull, surprisingly since the Tigers started out with a record of one win in their last eight games.
But Wilks, 21, signed on loan in January from Oakwell, proved to be the main threat. The bustling winger got in the thick of it three times before scoring.
A low, hard drive tested Preston keeper Declan Rudd, who managed to hold. Wilks then snatched at a half chance but hoofed well over.
Eventually though he got on the scoresheet, only for Hull to blow it.