 Nugent was superb for Preston |
David Nugent scored two brilliant goals as Preston won for the first time this season - and inflicted the opening defeat on Mick McCarthy's Wolves. Jay Bothroyd opened the scoring, beating Carlo Nash at his near post after cutting inside from the right.
David Nugent equalised with a volley on the turn after Sean St.Ledger's scuffed shot dropped invitingly.
He then struck the winner with a shot from 20 yards before Simon Whaley struck deep in injury time.
It was a game in which both teams enjoyed spells of superiority, though Wolves disappointed after the break and, in particular, after falling behind.
Prior to scoring Bothroyd missed with a free-kick and Rohan Ricketts should have taken a first touch before shooting after Craig Davies found him in space inside the Preston area.
Preston responded to Bothroyd's goal and equalised through Nugent after 22 minutes.
Lee Naylor tried to stop Nugent's shot with his hand and might have seen red had he prevented a goal.
Nugent forced a save from Matt Murray with a near-post shot and the Wolves keeper made an excellent one-handed stop after the break to prevent Kelvin Wilson from heading Preston in front.
Danny Pugh shot narrowly wide for North End before Nugent struck with his second superb goal of the evening.
Nugent caught Karl Henry in possession and surged towards the edge of the Wolves area before shooting through the legs of Jody Craddock.
Simon Whaley forced another save from Murray with a well-struck shot, while Wolves rallied towards the end.
Jamie Clapham shot well from distance but Carlo Nash was up to the task.
And a miserable evening for Wolves was completed when Whaley struck deep into injury time, his right-foot strike from 20 yards eluding Murray.
Wolves boss Mick McCarthy:
"We have a new team and confidence is a bit brittle," said McCarthy. "Some of them looked as though they were running on empty at the end. "A few of them could have done with an extra couple of weeks pre-season, but I do not want to sound like I'm making excuses because Preston were better.
"There was no lack of effort, but we lacked quality at times."
Preston boss Paul Simpson:
"It is a massive relief, we knew it would be a tough game and we had a patched-up side out, but we showed real character.
"We asked them to play with a bit of passion and to play with belief in themselves and each other.
"It has been a wonderful night for us and hopefully the first of many. We did not allow Wolves to settle and knocked the stuffing out of them."
Wolverhampton: Murray, Clyde (Edwards 60), Breen, Craddock, Naylor, Ricketts (Olofinjana 54), Henry, O'Connor, Clapham, Craig Davies (Clarke 54), Bothroyd.
Subs Not Used: Oakes, Jones.
Booked: Craddock.
Goals: Bothroyd 14.
Preston: Nash, Wilson, Hill, St. Ledger, Chilvers, Whaley, Jarrett, McKenna, Pugh, Nugent (Agyemang 88), Dichio (Sedgwick 73).
Subs Not Used: Lonergan, Stock, McCormack.
Booked: Dichio, Whaley, Wilson, Nash.
Goals: Nugent 23, 65, Whaley 90.
Att: 17,410
Ref: U Rennie (S Yorkshire).
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