Doncaster were left to rue defensive errors after going down to Preston.

Jack King headed the visitors in front midway through the first half after being left unmarked in the box.

Rovers equalised when David Cotterill's free-kick deflected into the net off the head of Joel Byrom.

Scott Laird capitalised on gaps in the home defence and nodded in to restore Preston's lead and Stuart Beavon confirmed their victory when he fired home from 20 yards.

VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Doncaster Rovers manager Dean Saunders told BBC Radio Sheffield:

"We conceded two goals from corners and you can't lose goals like that - especially against a team like that, who are good at them.

"They didn't really create a chance from open play.

"We didn't control the game enough but we made loads of chances out there. They got enough blocks in."

Preston North End manager Graham Westley told BBC Radio Lancashire:

"It was definitely a step forward for us tonight. It was a much more professional performance, we did a lot more of the right things, and in the end I thought it was a convincing win.

"We deservedly went ahead and then took our foot off the gas for 15 minutes.

"In the second half, we took the lessons on board, came out to go and win the game, passed the ball well and always looked threatening going forward."

Lineup, Bookings (4) & Substitutions (3)

Doncaster Rovers

  • 33 Woods
  • 02 Quinn
  • 05 Jones Booked
  • 14 Spurr Booked
  • 16 McCombe
  • 06 Syers Booked
  • 07 Woods
  • 11 Cotterill
  • 08 Paynter
  • 09 Brown
  • 23 Bennett

Substitutes

  • 01 Sullivan
  • 03 Husband
  • 04 Martis
  • 29 Middleton
  • 30 Keegan
  • 10 Blake

Preston North End

  • 01 Stuckmann
  • 03 Laird
  • 04 Huntington (Cansdell-Sherriff - 46' )
  • 16 Buchanan (Procter - 74' )
  • 26 Wright
  • 13 Byrom
  • 20 Beardsley
  • 21 Mousinho
  • 22 King
  • 07 Amoo (Monakana - 57' Booked )
  • 29 Beavon

Substitutes

  • 23 Simonsen
  • 06 Cansdell-Sherriff
  • 08 Wroe
  • 17 Monakana
  • 18 Procter
  • 19 Welsh
  • 24 Hayhurst
Ref: Whitestone
Att: 5,681

Match Stats

Shots

3 4

On target

0 1

Corners

7 5

Fouls

13 9

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:50 Full time

Full Time The referee blows for the end of the match.

90:00 +2:27

Jeffrey Monakana decides to take a short corner.

90:00 +1:27

Rob Jones gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Bailey Wright. Shane Cansdell-Sherriff restarts play with the free kick.

87:24 Booking

Booking David Syers goes into the book.

87:11

David Syers gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Scott Laird. Scott Laird restarts play with the free kick.

86:19

Chris Brown is ruled offside. Indirect free kick taken by Thorsten Stuckmann.

86:19

The referee blows for offside against Chris Brown. Thorsten Stuckmann takes the direct free kick.

85:07

Kyle Bennett gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Andy Procter. Thorsten Stuckmann takes the direct free kick.

83:30 Booking

Booking Rob Jones is given a yellow card.

81:01

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on John Mousinho by Chris Brown. Thorsten Stuckmann takes the free kick.

79:53

Martin Woods concedes a free kick for a foul on Stuart Beavon. Thorsten Stuckmann takes the direct free kick.

78:07

Billy Paynter takes a shot.

74:55

David Cotterill takes the direct free kick. Inswinging corner taken by David Cotterill. David Cotterill takes the inswinging corner, Bailey Wright makes a clearance. Corner taken by David Cotterill from the right by-line played to the near post.

74:55 Booking

Booking The referee books Jeffrey Monakana for unsporting behaviour.

74:44

Unfair challenge on Tommy Spurr by Jeffrey Monakana results in a free kick.

73:09 Substitution

Substitution Andy Procter comes on in place of David Buchanan.

70:56 Goal scored

Goal - Stuart Beavon - Doncaster 1 - 3 Preston Stuart Beavon finds the back of the net with a goal from just outside the penalty box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Doncaster 1-3 Preston.

68:18

Stuart Beavon produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that goes wide right of the target.

66:21

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Joel Byrom by Martin Woods. Free kick taken by Thorsten Stuckmann.

64:22

Chris Brown gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jack King. Jack King takes the free kick.

62:28

David Cotterill takes a inswinging corner from the left by-line to the near post, save made by Thorsten Stuckmann.

61:51

Unfair challenge on Rob Jones by Stuart Beavon results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Gary Woods.

60:46

Corner taken by Joel Byrom.

59:51

Assist by Joel Byrom.

59:51 Goal scored

Goal - Scott Laird - Doncaster 1 - 2 Preston Scott Laird finds the back of the net with a headed goal from close in. Doncaster 1-2 Preston.

59:22

Scott Laird takes a shot. Blocked by Jamie McCombe.

56:45 Substitution

Substitution Jeffrey Monakana comes on in place of David Amoo.

55:57

Shane Cansdell-Sherriff concedes a free kick for a foul on David Cotterill. Paul Quinn restarts play with the free kick.

55:38

Centre by David Amoo.

54:56

Foul by David Syers on John Mousinho, free kick awarded. Shane Cansdell-Sherriff takes the direct free kick.

52:31

Rob Jones has a header from deep inside the six-yard box and clears the crossbar.

49:56

Unfair challenge on David Cotterill by David Buchanan results in a free kick. David Cotterill restarts play with the free kick.

45:01

The second half kicks off.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution (Preston) makes a substitution, with Shane Cansdell-Sherriff coming on for Paul Huntington.

45:00 +2:18 Half time

Half Time The whistle is blown to end the first half.

45:00 +0:23 Goal scored

Goal - David Cotterill - Doncaster 1 - 1 Preston A goal is scored by David Cotterill from just outside the penalty box to the top right corner of the goal. Doncaster 1-1 Preston.

44:55

Unfair challenge on Billy Paynter by Paul Huntington results in a free kick. David Cotterill takes the direct free kick.

43:24

David Cotterill takes a inswinging corner from the left by-line to the near post.

42:42

Free kick awarded for a foul by Jack King on Kyle Bennett. Tommy Spurr takes the free kick.

40:46

David Cotterill has an effort at goal from the edge of the box that misses to the right of the target.

38:00

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Billy Paynter by David Amoo. Tommy Spurr takes the free kick.

32:59

Joel Byrom provided the assist for the goal.

32:59 Goal scored

Goal - Jack King - Doncaster 0 - 1 Preston Jack King gets on the score sheet with a goal from close in to the top left corner of the goal. Doncaster 0-1 Preston.

32:16

Corner from the right by-line taken by Joel Byrom,

31:00 +0:15 Booking

Booking Tommy Spurr shown a yellow card.

23:00

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jack King by David Cotterill. Thorsten Stuckmann takes the direct free kick.

21:27

Unfair challenge on Jack King by Chris Brown results in a free kick. Jack King takes the direct free kick. Paul Quinn gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Scott Laird. Joel Byrom takes the direct free kick.

16:58

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by David Cotterill from the right by-line.

14:28

Rob Jones challenges Chris Beardsley unfairly and gives away a free kick. Scott Laird takes the direct free kick.

10:04

Unfair challenge on Joel Byrom by David Syers results in a free kick. Paul Huntington takes the free kick.

9:05

Jack King takes a shot.

7:51

David Amoo concedes a free kick for a foul on Tommy Spurr. Free kick taken by Gary Woods.

5:37

David Cotterill takes a floated corner.

4:52

The official flags Chris Beardsley offside. Gary Woods takes the indirect free kick.

4:10

Unfair challenge on Jamie McCombe by Stuart Beavon results in a free kick. Gary Woods takes the direct free kick.

0:25

Corner taken left-footed by Joel Byrom,

0:00

The referee starts the match.

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