Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-0 Preston North End

Teenager Lee Evans scored his first goal since August as Wolves overcame promotion rivals Preston at Molineux.

After early pressure from the home side, Dave Edwards slotted under keeper Declan Rudd to put them in front.

Joe Garner almost levelled when his curling shot struck the crossbar, but Evans doubled the lead after Rudd had saved James Henry's initial effort.

Paul Gallagher forced a good save from Aaron McCarey, but Preston's hopes of a fourth successive win came to nothing.

The victory was only the second in eight games for Wolves, who remained in third place, only two points behind Leyton Orient and three adrift of leaders Brentford.

And 19-year-old Evans' goal in his first start since November justified manager Kenny Jackett's decision to restore him to the team.

Despite the result, Preston held onto fourth, five points behind Wolves, but six clear of Rotherham, leaving them well-placed to push for at least a play-off place in the remainder of the season.

• Line-ups
• Match Stats
• Live Text

Line-ups

Wolves

• 31McCarey
• 18Ricketts
• 26Golbourne
• 4EdwardsSubstituted forDavisat 63'minutes
• 5Stearman
• 6Batth
• 7Henry
• 14EvansSubstituted forElokobiat 89'minutes
• 9GriffithsBooked at 27minsSubstituted forMcAlindenat 70'minutes
• 27Jacobs
• 11McDonald

Substitutes

• 1Hennessey
• 3Elokobi
• 8Davis
• 10Sako
• 16Cassidy
• 20McAlinden
• 29Doyle

Preston

• 23Rudd
• 5Clarke
• 16BuchananBooked at 89mins
• 19WelshBooked at 62minsSubstituted forBrownhillat 71'minutes
• 22King
• 6Wright
• 11HolmesSubstituted forWisemanat 60'minutes
• 37KilkennyBooked at 54mins
• 27HumeSubstituted forDaviesat 60'minutes
• 14Garner
• 12Gallagher

Substitutes

• 1Stuckmann
• 2Keane
• 3Laird
• 7Humphrey
• 9Davies
• 30Brownhill
• 32Wiseman

Referee:

Scott Mathieson

Attendance:

20,434

Match Stats

Home TeamWolvesAway TeamPreston

Possession

Home41%

Away59%

Shots

Home20

Away5

Shots on Target

Home8

Away1

Corners

Home1

Away7

Fouls

Home16

Away9

Live Text

Posted at

Match ends, Wolverhampton Wanderers 2, Preston North End 0.

Full Time

Posted at 90'+3'

Second Half ends, Wolverhampton Wanderers 2, Preston North End 0.

Posted at 90'+2'

Attempt missed. James Henry (Wolverhampton Wanderers) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high.

Posted at 90'

Attempt saved. James Henry (Wolverhampton Wanderers) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.

Substitution

Posted at 89'

Substitution, Wolverhampton Wanderers. George Elokobi replaces Lee Evans.

Posted at 89'

Michael Jacobs (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 89'

Foul by David Buchanan (Preston North End).

Posted at 85'

Foul by Lee Evans (Wolverhampton Wanderers).

Posted at 85'

Josh Brownhill (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 84'

Foul by James Henry (Wolverhampton Wanderers).

Posted at 84'

David Buchanan (Preston North End) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Posted at 80'

Richard Stearman (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 80'

Foul by Joe Garner (Preston North End).

Posted at 78'

Corner, Preston North End. Conceded by Sam Ricketts.

Posted at 78'

Corner, Preston North End. Conceded by Kevin McDonald.

Posted at 78'

Foul by Kevin McDonald (Wolverhampton Wanderers).

Posted at 78'

Neil Kilkenny (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 77'

Attempt saved. Liam McAlinden (Wolverhampton Wanderers) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.

Posted at 76'

Corner, Preston North End. Conceded by Aaron McCarey.

Posted at 76'

Attempt saved. Paul Gallagher (Preston North End) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.

Posted at 74'

Corner, Preston North End. Conceded by Danny Batth.

Substitution

Posted at 71'

Substitution, Preston North End. Josh Brownhill replaces John Welsh.

Posted at 71'

Lee Evans (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 71'

Foul by Joe Garner (Preston North End).

Substitution

Posted at 70'

Substitution, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Liam McAlinden replaces Leigh Griffiths.

Posted at 69'

Attempt missed. Scott Wiseman (Preston North End) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.

Posted at 68'

Foul by Danny Batth (Wolverhampton Wanderers).

Posted at 68'

Joe Garner (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 64'

Hand ball by Kevin McDonald (Wolverhampton Wanderers).

Substitution

Posted at 63'

Substitution, Wolverhampton Wanderers. David Davis replaces David Edwards.

Posted at 62'

Kevin McDonald (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Booking

Posted at 62'

John Welsh (Preston North End) is shown the yellow card.

Posted at 62'

Foul by John Welsh (Preston North End).

Posted at 62'

Foul by Lee Evans (Wolverhampton Wanderers).

Posted at 62'

Jack King (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Substitution

Posted at 60'

Substitution, Preston North End. Scott Wiseman replaces Lee Holmes.

Substitution

Posted at 60'

Substitution, Preston North End. Kevin Davies replaces Iain Hume.

Posted at 59'

Corner, Preston North End. Conceded by Sam Ricketts.

Posted at 58'

Foul by Danny Batth (Wolverhampton Wanderers).

Posted at 58'

Joe Garner (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

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