Preston North End ended their dismal league campaign on a high after a convincing 3 – 1 win over Watford which left the Deepdale faithful singing “We’re going straight back up!”.
Andreas Wiermann’s opener was cancelled out by goals from Barry Nicholson, Iain Hume and substitute Jamie Proctor.
Youngsters Daniel Devine and Scott Leather kept their place in the North End starting eleven after impressing against Ipswich Town. Paul Hayes came in to replace the injured Chris Brown whilst Ian Ashbee replaced Paul Coutts who recently underwent groin surgery.
Stand-in skipper Billy Jones was playing his last game for Preston after he admitted he was to leave in the summer.
Watford boss Malkay Mackay was without Will Buckley and Marvin Sordell so Wiermann and Sean Murray started in their place. Defender Martin Taylor completed a season of starting every league game.
The opening exchanges were timid, but Watford’s first sight of goal came after quarter of an hour and they clinically took it.
Good interplay down the left side set the Championship’s top scorer Danny Graham free, he pulled the ball back for on loan Aston Villa striker Wiermann to slide into the bottom corner from 12 yards.
Preston’s first glimpse came on 26 minutes after a ball fell kindly to Carter, but fired into the side netting.
That was to be a warning for the away side as two minutes later the bottom side were back on level terms thanks to Barry Nicholson.
The Scotsman hit a fierce 25 yard strike which Watford stopper Scott Loach could only divert into the back of the net.
The goal seemed to re-energise Phil Brown’s men and a minute later North End were close to taking the lead.
Carter’s defence splitting pass found Treacy who cut in on his left foot, but he could not beat Scott Loach’s far post.
Hayes had a chance to give Preston the lead after the ball kindly rebounded to the frontman in the area, but his first touch let him down and Loach was able to gather.
Watford were the first to threaten after the break Wiermann firing straight at Iain Turner from 15 yards.
But two minutes later Preston and Treacy again were inches from taking the lead.
A cross field ball from Hume was picked up by Treacy on the right who brought the ball down and fired a wicked strike that had Loach beaten, but unfortunately for Preston not the crossbar.
Preston, who have shown they can compete against almost anyone in the division on their day, didn’t have to wait much longer to take the lead though as Hume’s 25 yard curling free kick this time beat Loach and the post.
It was Hume’s 12th league goal of the season and the Deepdale fans will be hoping they can keep hold of the workaholic front man come the start of next season.
The impressive, Treacy who is another who Phil Brown will be looking to help fire them back to the Championship went close as did Paul Hayes whose curling shot was brilliantly tipped over by Loach.
On 79 minutes, Watford were close to being level as Adrian Mariappa tried to bundle home a corner, but Nicholson was there to clear off the line.
Moments later Mariappa had another glorious opportunity to level, but he headed over when unchallenged form 6 yards out.
Watford continued to push for the equalise, with Graham this time denied by the legs of Turner.
Brown gave youngsters Dale Middleton, Jamie Proctor, and debutant George Miller the chance to shine in the second half and it was Proctor who rounded off proceedings late on with a delicate finish through Loach’s legs.
But despite the win, Preston bring their 11 year stint in the second tier to an end and now look ahead to bouncing straight back up from League one next season.
After the win manager Phil Brown praised the North End faithful:
“The fans are a million per cent behind what we are trying to do here.
“The future is bright.”
Brown also admitted there will be changes in the summer:
“We will be active in the market, but we will have to cut our cloth accordingly.”
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