Wanderers completed their public preparations for the new campaign with a confidence-boosting win over Championship opposition to complete an unbeaten pre-season programme, writes Pete Oliver.
Preston North End’s first visit since 2019 ended in defeat with two quick-fire goals inside the last 20 minutes from Amario Cozier-Duberry and Joel Randall.
That made it five wins in a row – with another clean sheet – this summer as Wanderers gave the home fans something to look forward to before their return in a fortnight’s time.
That apart, boss Steven Schumacher didn’t show too much of his hand ahead of next Sunday’s League One opener at Stockport County as he evened up the game time across most of his fit and available players.
They didn’t include recent arrival Ethan Erhahon, with the midfielder in need of more training time with his new team-mates to get him fully up to speed.
Those that did start completed 70 minutes and then with fresh legs on, Wanderers struck twice in four minutes almost immediately after the changes to complete their morale-booster.
Cozier-Duberry continued his positive start by marking his first appearance at the Toughsheet Community Stadium with the opening goal, rifling in a low shot from outside the penalty via a deflection off North End defender Andrew Hughes to follow up his winner at Hibs a week ago.
And with 75 minutes gone it was 2-0 and game over when wing-twin Thierry Gale popped up on the opposite flank and with almost his first touch crossed low for fellow substitute Joel Randall to calmly slot home his first goal of pre-season.
The goals were a fair reflection of an occasionally feisty second-half largely controlled by the Whites, even though Preston substitute Daniel Jebbison lifted an effort over the top before striking colleague Milutin Osmajić had the chance to open the scoring with an effort well saved by the legs of Teddy Sharman-Lowe.
The Wanderers’ keeper also denied new North End signing Michael Smith before the break as the Championship outfit enjoyed their best spell.
But the Whites had openings of their own alongside the two goals, with Cozier-Duberry testing Daniel Iversen early on and Josh Dacres-Cogley – enjoying another impressive afternoon – glancing a Josh Sheehan free-kick over the bar before Schumacher’s men, still needing a striker to finish off some of their best work, delivered their double blow to head into the real thing in fine fettle.
Wanderers: Sharman-Lowe; Dacres-Cogley (Osei-Tutu 71), Toal (Forino 71), Johnston, Conway (Inwood 80); Morley (Simons 71), Sheehan (Sharples-Ahmed 85); Cozier-Duberry (Schön 80), McAtee (Abimbola 85), Mendes Gomes Gale 71); Lawrence (Randall 71).
Booked: Sheehan
Preston: Iversen; Offiah (Storey 69), Gibson, Hughes, Brady (Vukcevic 62); Small, Potts (McCann 62), Whiteman, Frøkjær (Thordarson 62); Osmajic, Smith (Jebbison HT).
Booked: Frøkjær, Jebberson
Referee: Mather
Attendance: 8,115 (1,931 Preston)