Preston North End 0-1 Lincoln City: Freddie Draper scores late Imps winner

Freddie Draper came off the bench to net a late winner in a 1-0 win for Lincoln away at Preston.

The first half ended goalless with the hosts having their moments, but failing to convert their chances.

It was more of the same in the second half and those missed opportunities would come back to bite the Lilywhites as Draper headed in Andrei Coubis' long throw in the 81st minute.

The Imps are now unbeaten in their last four league games, while Preston's nightmare start to the season continued with three points from the first 21 available.

Paul Heckingbottom's side started on the front foot, putting in a flurry of crosses into the Lincoln box.

However, it was the visitors who delivered the most meaningful cross in the early stages when Reeco Hackett hung one up for Rob Street whose header deflected behind.

The hosts almost had the lead inadvertently following Andrija Vukcevic's cross, which was heading into the top corner but for an acrobatic save from George Wickens.

One then fell for Johnny Kenny inside the area, but he blazed over. Stanley Mills later tried his luck and saw his effort well saved by Wickens.

Kenny had another opportunity when he came sliding in to meet Alfie Devine's cross from close range and was a whisker away, but was just unable to get there.

Preston were getting closer and their most likely route appeared to be from crosses as Liam Gibbs whipped one in that was just centimetres too high for Callum Lang, before the former then dragged a shot just wide.

The second half continued in the same vein as the home side continued to bombard Lincoln's box with crosses. Lang met one at the far post that came off Wickens' foot and behind, before Kenny tried his luck and tested Wickens again.

The Imps were limited to playing on the break, but still had their chances. Conor McGrandles had a shot saved by Daniel Iversen, and shortly after the Scot clipped one in that was a fraction too high for Ben House at the far post.

House then found himself in a bit of space inside the box and his ball across cannoned on to the body of Harry Clarke, but appeals for a penalty were waved away.

Preston kept pushing as Jordan Storey had one cleared off the line by Dom Jeffries.

But they would be left to rue their missed opportunities late on. Coubis' long throw into the box was met by Draper, whose found the net with the deftest of touches with his head.

The hosts probed late on and continued to put balls into the box, which Lincoln defended resolutely to hold on to three crucial points.