Frankie thrilled as North End finally Riis to the occasion

EMIL RIIS is fast turning into Deepdale’s favourite Great Dane after his double strike ended Preston’s poor run of results.

The striker celebrated signing an additional year on his contract in style as he hit two first-half strikes to take his season’s tally to 11 in 19 outings.

North End boss Frankie McAvoy was relieved that his side’s run of only a single win in their last nine league outings was finally ended.

He said: “I’m delighted to get the win. Some people think his first goal was a cross, but it was no fluke.

“Emil does that regularly in training. His second goal was crucial.”

Riis’ first strike was a belter, as he unleashed a long-range rising drive that flashed across the box and into the far side of goal.

It gave Croatian keeper Simon Sluga no chance, and neither did Riis’ penalty in added-on time at the end of the first half. Luton skipper

PRESTON ....... 2 LUTON ............ 0

Sonny Bradley gave ref Dean Whitestone no choice but to point to the spot as he brought down Ali McCann.

Up stepped Riis (right with Alan Browne) to hit the spot-kick hard and low under the diving Sluga.

Luton never really settled and boss Nathan Jones said: “That’s as poor as we have been all season.

“We got out-battled. There was no life in us at all.”

PRESTON: Iversen 6; Van den Berg

6, Bauer 7, Hughes 7; Barkhuizen 7, McCann 6 (Potts 90th), Whiteman 6, Earl

7; Browne 7; Riis 8 (Ledson 90th), Maguire

6 (Sinclair 77th)

LUTON: Sluga 7; Lockyer 5, Bradley 6 (Lansbury (45th) 6), Naismith 7; Bree 6, Rea 5 (Muskie (45th) 6), Mpanzu 6, Bell 6; Clarke 6, Cornick 5 (Onyedinma (69th) 6), Jerome 6

STAR MAN: Emil Riis

REF: D Whitestone