Preston North End began the Easter weekend with a comfortable 3-0 victory at home to Rotherham United on Good Friday.
Duane Holmes got his side going on his return to the starting XI in the 22ndn.d minute, before an Emil Riis brace sent North End into half-time well on top.
PNE were dominant in the second half too and cruised to a win which kept the Play-Offs within touching distance.
The opening to the game in torrential conditions didn’t see much in the way of opportunities at either end, but the first shot on goal midway through the opening half was to result in the deadlock being broken.
Robbie Brady – who had offered PNE’s most positive signs early on – slammed a low ball across the box and into a dangerous area where Holmes was waiting at the far post to find the back of the net.
The American, who was lining up at right wing-back, almost repaid the favor to the Republic of Ireland international on the opposite side, however North End’s No.11 couldn’t quite jump high enough to get the required contact.
Rotherham United had their first real foray forward of the afternoon on the half-hour mark and Freddie Woodman was called into making a fairly comfortable stop by Cafú.
North End were knocking the ball around well and had a second to show for their dominance in the 37th minute when a strong Ali McCann challenge sent the ball out to Mads Frøkjær. He then sent it right for fellow Dane Riis who took a touch before firing into the far corner.
PNE’s No.19 had his second of the day five minutes later as the lively Holmes again did well down the right to find Will Keane, and his pullback was loose in the area where Riis was able to turn around and slam beyond Viktor Johansson.
Ali McCann almost scored his first goal since August 2022 in the second minute of stoppage-time as he got on the end of Frøkjær’s cross, only to see Johansson’s outstretched arm keep it out.
Into the second half, the Lilywhites were still the side with all the ball and creating chances. Skipper Alan Browne threaded a pass though for Riis to get on the end of just before the hour, and his cross from the touchline so nearly found Keane on the six-yard box, but he couldn’t quite reach it.
Holmes tried his luck with a side-footed effort which fell just wide in the 63rd minute and there were other opportunities for the likes of McCann and Frøkjær, as PNE stayed patient in creating openings.
With the game seemingly out of sight, chances were given to youngsters Kian Best, Noah Mawene and Josh Seary, and PNE maintained a fourth clean sheet in five.
PNE line-up: Woodman; Storey (Whatmough, 61), Lindsay, Hughes; Holmes (Seary, 85), McCann (N.Mawene, 77), Browne, Brady (Best, 61); Frøkjær; Keane (Stewart, 77), Riis. Subs not used: Cornell, Cunningham, Woodburn, Osmajić.
Rotherham United line-up: Johansson; Peltier (Ferguson, 79), Odoffin, Humphreys, Revan (Seriki, 86); Lindsay, Clucas, Rathbone (Rinomhota, 69); Nombe, Wyke (Eaves, 69), Cafú (Bramall, 45). Subs not used: Phillips, Appiah, Hatton.
Attendance: 15,470 (434 Rotherham United fans).
Referee: Mr S Martin.
