Football: ROCKY ROED FOR CRAIG

PRESTON boss Craig Brown tipped West Ham for an immediate return to the Premiership after seeing his side sink to the classy Londoners.

But he insisted: "We played well and could have had two penalties. We made them look jittery at times."

His side certainly started brightly and took an early lead.

The visitors battled back and, playing with the composure and style associated with the club, could have had more.

That would have been rough on Brown's men who did enough in a bright game to suggest they may have enough to make it into the play- offs.

Preston took the lead inside 90 seconds. Dickson Etuhu ushered the ball wide to Graham Alexander who ran into space.

West Ham's Mark Repka slipped as he went to intercept Alexander's cross and Eddie Lewis tapped the ball home past David James.

West Ham showed the fighting spirit they will need if they are to bounce back into the Premiership and were soon level.

Picking up the ball just on the touch line, new boy Matthew Etherington crossed to Don Hutchison on the edge of the Preston box. His header found Defoe, who wriggled free to poke an effort past Jonathan Gould.

The visitors went in search of a second and it almost arrived when Defoe freed Mellor.

Evading two tackles, Mellor surged clear but Gould blocked his goal-bound shot and his attempts to follow up were thwarted by Chris Lucketti.

With Defoe looking lively and Hutchison and Rob Lee pulling the strings in midfield, Roeder's side looked good. However, a sense remained that the Hammers' defence would buckle under pressure.

Czech international Repka, who was embarrassed on numerous occasions last year in the Premiership, showed he still remains West Ham's weak link at the back. That said, Dailly wasn't much better.

Though Preston sensed blood, particularly through Ricardo Fuller whose direct running caused problems for the hapless centre-halves, they couldn't convert their pressure, leaving the sides to go into the break all square.

Craig Brown's men began the second half in a similar vein to the first and the home side should have taken the lead within minutes of the re- start, when David James needlessly charged out of his goal to present David Healy with a chance.

The Northern Ireland international, though, could not direct his effort between the covering Rob Lee and Dailly.

Sensing the need for a change, Roeder withdrew Mellor for Connolly on the hour.

His arrival signalled an improvement in West Ham's play and they went ahead on 69 minutes when he ended a solo run down the left by cutting inside two defenders to fire between Gould and the near post.

Brown said: "It was an inspired substitution, all credit to Glenn. You dream about your subs coming off the bench and grabbing the winner."

Republic of Ireland international Connolly certainly felt he had a point to prove.

The 26-year-old, signed from Wimbledon for pounds 285,000 less than two weeks ago, was furious Glenn Roeder had left him out the starting line up, preferring Neil Mellor instead.

He said: "I was very disappointed not to start the game. I have played 40 games for my country and I think I deserve to be picked.

"I will speak to Glenn further this week but I might have to look for a new club."

With the speculation surrounding the future of Jermain Defoe, this was the last thing Roeder needed. Even so, he insisted he was not annoyed with the Irishman.

"I gave him his debut when he was 16 at Watford, so I know what he's like," said Roeder, who was back in the dug out for the first time since neurosurgery in the spring.

"He's an angry ant. It doesn't surprise me, it's the way of the world."

matchVERDICTS

MAN OF THE MATCH

jermainDEFOE

Lively, direct and full of ideas, it's no surprise Manchester United want to whisk him away. Scored one great goal, linked well with the midfield and will bag a hatful if he stays in the First Division.

RATINGS

PRESTON

Gould 7; Alexander 7, Lucketti 7, O'Neill 7, Edwards 7; Etuhu 6 (Skora 67), Lewis 7, Jackson 7, Healy 6; Cresswell 6, Fuller 8

WEST HAM

James 6; Brevitt 7, Repka 5, Dailly 6, Ferdinand 6; Lee 7; Etherington 7, Garcia 5 (Sofiane 64 5), Hutchison 7; Defoe 8, Mellor 7 (Connolly 60 6)

REFEREE: Paul Danson, 7

ATTENDANCE: 18,246

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