Preston overcame a poor Grimsby side thanks to goals from Graham Alexander, Richard Cresswell and David Healy.

Craig Brown's side had conceded 10 goals in their last two matches and needed to get a result against a Grimsby team who had lost their previous three league games.

And the home team got off to a great start, scoring after 12 minutes.

Graham Alexander registered his sixth penalty of the season after Healy was brought down by Grimsby keeper Danny Coyne.

Preston doubled their lead in the 26th minute through a superb solo effort from Cresswell, who ran through the ineffective Grimsby defence before slotting the ball past Coyne.

Rob Edwards almost scored a third after connecting with a Paul McKenna cross after 18 minutes, only for Coyne to make an excellent save.

But Healy put the game beyond Grimsby after 59 minutes with a right-foot volley from 18 yards.

And Grimsby's afternoon took a further turn for the worse when Alan Pouton was sent off for a second bookable offence in the 76th minute.

Dickson Etuhu could have added a fourth for Preston in the 82nd minute but his close-range header from Lewis' corner went wide of the left-hand post.

Preston: Lucas, Alexander, Lucketti, Murdock, Edwards, McKenna, Etuhu, Skora, Lewis, Cresswell, Healy. Subs: Mears, Moilanen, Rankine, Broomes, Abbott.

Grimsby: Coyne, Ford, Gavin, Groves, Gallimore, Oster, Santos, Coldicott, Pouton, Livingstone, Mansaram. Subs: Allaway, Soames, Ward, Cooke, Thompson.

Referee: T Bates (Stoke on Trent)