Championship play-offs/Preston NE 2 Derby County 0: Goals from David Nugent and Richard Creswell yesterday put Preston in pole position for the play-off semi-final second leg at Derby on Thursday.

North End dominated the opening period and, after Cresswell had missed a couple of chances, Nugent put the hosts ahead in the closing stages of the first half.

Derby were much better after the break but the better chances still fell to North End and they came up with a fortunate second goal in the final minute.

Mo Konjic, attempting to head a cross clear, instead headed the ball down into the turf and it bounced off Creswell's boot and past Derby goalkeeper Lee Camp.

The visitors had been on the backfoot from the very start and suffered an early setback with defender Michael Johnson stretchered off and replaced by Pablo Mills after just five minutes.

North End finally opened the scoring in the 38th minute when Nugent chased down a Cresswell flick-on and the young striker broke past two defenders and into the area before clipping the ball over the onrushing Camp.

Derby started to have more of the game in the second half and Morten Bisgaard had their first shot of note 11 minutes after the break. Other chances followed but Derby committed more men forward and Creswell doubled Preston's advantage to see them take a massive step closer to the play-off final.

PRESTON NE: Nash, Mawene, Davis, Lucketti, Hill, Sedgwick, McKenna, O'Neil (Etuhu 80), Lewis (Broomes 89), Cresswell, Nugent (Agyemang 86). Subs not used: Ward, Mears. Booked: Davis, McKenna. Goals: Nugent 38, Cresswell 90.

DERBY COUNTY: Camp, Kenna, Konjic, Johnson (Mills 6), Jackson, Reich, Bisgaard, Taylor, Huddlestone, Smith (Bolder 45), Peschisolido. Subs not used: Miller, Junior, Tudgay. Booked: Konjic.

Referee: A Marriner (W Midlands).