Preston knock at Prem door BARKHUIZEN DOUBLE SEALS WIN

IT HAS been 58 years since Preston North End were last in the top flight of English football.

And they are sitting pretty today in one of the Championship’s automatic promotion spots after a sensational comeback to win a rip-roaring Lancashire derby.

Finding themselves 2-0 down after 11 minutes, it took a tactical switch and a half-time rollicking from manager Alex Neil (right) to spark it.

“I was shellshocked on the sidelines for that first 20 to 25 minutes,” said Neil.

“Blackburn made it a derby and we didn’t. But we’re an honest group of lads and had a few honest words at half time.

“Good teams respond and we reacted and the second half performance was fantastic. Some teams talk about philosophies and all that but I’m here to win matches.

“We needed to turn it around and go more direct and we did.”

They remain unbeaten at Fortress Deepdale and are only two points behind leaders West Brom. It seemed unlikely when Rovers, backed by 5,000 fans, came flying out of the traps and went a goal up within a minute.

F r om Ad am Armstrong’s cross, Sam Gallagher’s header found the bottom corner via the post and North End keeper Declan Rudd for an own goal.

But there was no denying the big Rovers striker as he confidently curled it past Rudd for the second after just 11 minutes. It was only his second goal of the season and first in the Championship since netting on loan for Birmingham in January 2018.

Neil did not waste time in changing things as target man Jayden Stockley was sent on in place of captain Paul Gallagher before the half hour. Rovers had chances to seal it before they let the hosts back in following a bad error by Rovers keeper Christian Walton. Walton hoped Darnell Fisher’s deep cross would drop out at the far post.

It didn’t and Sean Maguire headed it back and Tom Barkhuizen headed into an empty net.

They levelled from the spot through Johnson after Alan Browne had been brought down by Rovers skipper Elliott

Bennett. And the comeback was complete as Barkhuizen curled home a superb winner to seal this frantic encounter, leaving Rovers manager Tony Mowbray crestfallen.

“They had no idea how to score in the first half,” he said.

“But then the goalkeeper messed up for the first goal and that got the crowd involved.

“They booted it long and played for fouls and second balls. It was all basic stuff.”