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Alan Browne celebrates giving Preston the lead at Stoke

Tom Barkhuizen grabbed his fourth goal in as many games as Preston edged within three points of the Championship automatic promotion places with victory at Stoke.

Barkhuizen wrapped up North End's win with 15 minutes remaining after Alan Browne had slotted home the opener early in the second half.

Stoke, who remain in 21st place and are four points above the relegation zone, had looked the better side in the first half, but were unable to break down the visitors' resolute back line.

The Potters made all the early running, with James McClean influential on the left flank, and North End needed vital blocks from defender Ben Davies to foil Tyrese Campbell and Sam Clucas.

Campbell went close again with a curling effort from the edge of the box, but Declan Rudd did well to claw the ball away before tipping Danny Batth's header around the post.

Preston failed to find much rhythm during the first 45 minutes and created very little, with Andrew Hughes' header sailing over just before the interval.

But they snatched a 57th-minute lead when Daniel Johnson's corner found the head of Davies, with Stoke failing to clear as Browne tucked away the loose ball from close range.

Barkhuizen almost doubled the lead when Darnell Fisher's pass split the Stoke defence and he cut into the penalty area before firing straight at Jack Butland.

But the Preston forward made amends a few minutes later when Davies nodded down Paul Gallagher's cross for him to sweep home a left-foot finish and seal the points.

Stoke manager Michael O'Neill told BBC Radio Stoke:

"I thought we were the better team for large portions of the game. We had the better chances from open play, not that we created a clearcut chance, but we had opportunities where our final ball could have been better.

"It's a harsh lesson for us and shows us the margin of winning and losing games."

Preston boss Alex Neil told BBC Radio Lancashire:

"Everybody wants to play well and we're no different, but that was simply one of our poorest performances in quite a while.

"But we got the job done. For us at the moment, it's about points.

"We're in that space now where we're three points off second and we just needed to get across the line."