Team news

Carter worry for North End Darren Carter is Preston's major injury concern for their home game with Scunthorpe.

The midfielder sustained an ankle problem in the 3-1 defeat to Crystal Palace and it is doubtful he will be fit for the crucial game with the Iron.

Winger Chris Sedgwick is still sidelined with a knee injury, although it is hoped he might return for the Coventry game next week.

With Sedgwick out, Keith Treacy will continue to deputise and will be eager to further show manager Darren Ferguson his worth to the side.

Treacy is the only out-and-out winger at Ferguson's disposal as Ross Wallace is unavailable as he completes his two-match suspension.

Paul Parry and Barry Nicholson remain sidelined after long injury lay-offs, although Nicholson has returned to light training.

Scunthorpe manager Nigel Adkins welcomes back leading scorer Gary Hooper and defender David Mirfin.

Striker Hooper has been sidelined for four weeks with a groin injury while Mirfin has missed the last two games with a calf problem.

Midfielder Sam Togwell (groin) is still two or three weeks away from fitness, though, while Marcus Williams is a doubt after being taken off against Swansea due to illness.

Scunthorpe will be desperate for a win as they battle to avoid relegation and Adkins is delighted to have Hooper back for the run in.

"I think it`s fair to say he (Hooper) and Paul Hayes have been fantastic for us this season and I would like to think they will be firing on all cylinders on Saturday," he told the club`s official website.

Preston vs Scunthorpe

Last modified 15:31 21/04/10

Preston end relegation fears An injury-time strike from Keith Treacy earned Preston a 3-2 victory over Scunthorpe that put any lingering Coca-Cola Championship relegation fears to bed.

The winger curled in a superb winner to complete a remarkable turnaround at Deepdale that leaves Scunthorpe in dire relegation straits as the season reaches its climax.

The Iron had been on course for a vital win after two goals inside eight second-half minutes from Garry Thompson had cancelled out Jon Parkin's first-half opener.

But Billy Jones nodded home with four minutes remaining to level and set up the grandstand finish, with Treacy's strike sealing the win.

The defeat leaves the Iron two points above the drop zone with four left to play and in an incredibly tight table, their relegation fate looks as if it will go down to the wire.

Preston will be able to sit comfortably after registering their first win in six games and manager Darren Ferguson will be looking forward to planning for next season.

Scunthorpe knew that a win would go a long way to securing their safety and they were quickly into their stride, creating two early chances for striker Paul Hayes.

Firstly he was denied by Andy Lonergan after a defence-splitting pass from Gary Hooper and then he headed over Thompson's cross.

The Iron could not capitalise on their strong start, though, and Preston came into the game, creating chances of their own.

Parkin bundled wide after latching on to a long ball from defence and Treacy could not connect properly with his volley after good work from Billy Jones.

But those misses did not prove costly as the hosts went ahead in the 28th minute and Scunthorpe were guilty of their own undoing with some shambolic defending.

Jones advanced into the box and put in a harmless looking cross, which Cliff Byrne could only manage to head against a team-mate and the ball fell perfectly for Parkin who pounced to convert from six yards.

Preston were then reliant on a flying save from Lonergan to keep them ahead when the 26-year-old keeper expertly tipped Grant McCann's curling shot around the post as Scunthorpe looked for a way back into the game.

But it was Preston that continued to dominate and Scunthorpe keeper Joe Murphy made two fine saves to keep his side in it.

He got down low to deny Parkin after a neat one-two on the edge of the area and then in first-half injury time he superbly kept out Danny Mayor's effort.

The second half began in an open fashion, with both sides having opportunities in front of goal.

Thompson had an effort cleared off the line by Sean St Ledger after burning off the attention of Elliott Ward, while Murphy again produced a good save to deny Treacy's deflected effort.

Then in the 64th minute Scunthorpe were gifted a leveller after a glaring error from St Ledger.

The Republic of Ireland international casually played the ball back to Lonergan without looking and inadvertently played in Thompson, who finished with a low effort.

The leveller buoyed the visitors and they were ahead just six minutes later when Thompson was fed by McCann and he scored with a cute finish with the outside of his boot.

Preston had looked short of ideas in their search for an equaliser, but they eventually found a way through in the 86th minute when Jones nodded home a rebound after Murphy had parried Neil Mellor's header.