Lady Luck finally shining on Rotherham United's survival bid after win over Preston North End

The tide might just be turning for Rotherham as their Championship revival continued with a 2-1 win at Preston.
Rotherham United's Freddie Ladapo (centre) celebrates with his teammates after Preston North End's Joe Rafferty scores an own goal during the Sky Bet Championship match at Deepdale, Preston.  Tim Markland/PA Wire.Rotherham United's Freddie Ladapo (centre) celebrates with his teammates after Preston North End's Joe Rafferty scores an own goal during the Sky Bet Championship match at Deepdale, Preston.  Tim Markland/PA Wire.
Rotherham United's Freddie Ladapo (centre) celebrates with his teammates after Preston North End's Joe Rafferty scores an own goal during the Sky Bet Championship match at Deepdale, Preston. Tim Markland/PA Wire.

For so long in this division, the odds have not been in their favour and they have invariably found themselves on the wrong end of Lady Luck.

But she shone on them at Deepdale as Paul Warne's men claimed an impressive victory to climb out of the relegation zone for the first time since before Christmas.

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Their first piece of luck came with less than a minute on the clock as Joe Rafferty headed through his own net to give the Millers the perfect start.

They then led a charmed life for the rest of the first period, with Preston wasting glorious chances to equalise.

North End did not come closer than Ben Whiteman's 20-yard free-kick which hit the post and then rolled along the goalline and to safety.

Having survived until the break, Ben Wiles doubled their lead 10 minutes after the restart, with Ched Evans' strike soon after bringing Preston back into it.

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Warne's men saw it out, though, to register a third successive away win and take their tally to 13 points from the last six games.

The boss said afetr the victory: “I thought Preston were easily the better side in the first half.

“They asked us loads of questions. We were lucky to go in at half-time with a clean sheet. Our performance didn't justify a 1-0 lead.

“We got our wing-backs to play a little bit deeper and got our foot on the ball a bit more in the second half. We were much better after the break. We scored again and I thought our play deserved a third goal.

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“On another day, it might have been a foul on Viktor (Johansson) for their goal. We had to defend a bit of siege.

“In this league when there is only a goal in it teams throw the kitchen sink at you. Alex Neil put some good subs on. I was very happy to hear the final whistle. All in all, it was a good day.”