The encouraging phone calls from Mick McCarthy helped, as did the support of his fellow Irishmen in the Deepdale dressing room and the countless monotonous, gruelling hours he has spent in the gym.

Birmingham hauled themselves out of the relegation zone and left Sunderland further in trouble at the wrong end of the Sky Bet Championship with a 3-1 win at St Andrew's.

Alex Neil did not hold back from criticising his players as Preston lost ground on the Championship play-off places following a draw with Birmingham.

Cardiff were knocked off the top of the Sky Bet Championship table after they were beaten 3-0 by Preston at Deepdale to end their unbeaten start.

A second-half goal from Joan Truyois saw AEK Larnaca take control of this Uefa Europa League second qualifying round tie as they defeated a gallant Cork City in front of a packed Turner’s Cross last night.

It’s fair to say Alan Browne and Aiden McGeady are at different ends of the international football spectrum.

Former Cork City player Alan Browne has been added to the latest Republic of Ireland squad.

Ayoze Perez struck twice as Rafael Benitez succeeded in his mission to guide Newcastle back to the Premier League at the first attempt with a resounding victory over 10-man Preston.

Aiden McGeady maintained his recent fine form as Preston continued their play-off push with a 2-1 win over QPR in Saturday’s Championship clash at Deepdale.

Aiden McGeady often flatters to deceive but the winger had an afternoon to savour on Saturday, scoring twice in Preston’s 4-2 win over Brentford.

Daryl Horgan’s first start for Preston proved a memorable one, the former Dundalk star creating the second goal and nearly scoring a third as North End beat Chris Hughton’s Brighton 2-0 in Saturday’s Championship clash at Deepdale.

Preston boss Simon Grayson slammed Jermaine Beckford and Eoin Doyle for their "absolute childish behaviour" after the North End team-mates were sent off following an angry exchange with each other in the defeat at Sheffield Wednesday.

Newcastle made it six straight wins in the Sky Bet Championship with a narrow 2-1 victory at Preston which maintained their cushion at the top of the table.

Newcastle moved three points clear at the top of the Sky Bet Championship with victory at home to Ipswich as promotion rivals Norwich slipped up at home to Preston.

Jermain Defoe’s hat-trick spared Sunderland’s blushes as they defeated Exeter 6-3 in a thrilling Capital One Cup clash last night.

Ander Herrera is not fazed by the prospect of having to compete with Bastian Schweinsteiger and Morgan Schneiderlin for a place in the Manchester United starting XI this season.

Cork native Alan Browne believes his Preston North End side are capable of figuring in the Championship promotion race after penning a new three-year contract with the club yesterday.

Preston 1 Man United 3

Wayne Rooney ended his goal drought as Manchester United set up a mouth-watering FA Cup quarter-final against Arsenal.

Bradford co-chairman Mark Lawn is backing his FA Cup heroes to beat either Sunderland or Fulham in the competition’s fifth round.

The man who has accused ex-Manchester United manager David Moyes of attacking him has alleged that he grabbed him around the neck and threw him to the floor during an altercation outside a wine bar.

Preston striker Neil Mellor has been forced to retire from professional football due to injury.

REPUBLIC of Ireland goalkeeping coach Alan Kelly has joined the management team at Preston North End.

Preston have announced that manager Phil Brown has left the club with immediate effect.

QPR’s seemingly unstoppable march towards promotion from the npower Championship continued as they posted a workmanlike 1-0 win over Doncaster at the Keepmoat Stadium.

Preston 2 Coventry 1

FAI President Paddy McCaul and 1992 cup-winning captain Paul Whelan this evening made the draw for the 2011 FAI Ford Senior Cup first and second rounds at FAI headquarters in Abbotstown.

Nottingham Forest moved into the npower Championship’s top two as today’s results saw them leapfrog Norwich.

Phil Brown today returned to management with Preston on an 18-month contract, as the npower Championship strugglers seek to avoid relegation.

THERE were two managerial casualties in the Championship yesterday as Brian Laws stepped down as the manager of Burnley at the request of chairman Barry Kilby just hours before Preston sacked Darren Ferguson.

Wigan 2 Preston 1

Struggling Wigan made six changes as they looked to kick-start their season against Championship side Preston in the Carling Cup tonight.

Preston are the latest club to be plunged into financial crisis after being hit with a winding up petition from Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs.

MANCHESTER UNITED midfielder Darren Fletcher expects Liverpool to raise their game when they visit Old Trafford on Sunday.

WEST BROM returned to the Coca-Cola Championship summit on goal difference, courtesy of a 1-1 draw at Cardiff.

West Brom leapfrogged Newcastle to the top of the Coca-Cola Championship after they claimed a 2-0 win over Scunthorpe while Newcastle suffered a 3-0 defeat at Derby.

Preston have signed Manchester United striker Danny Welbeck on loan for the rest of the season.

CARLO ANCELOTTI insists Joe Cole will be a Chelsea player next season even though he cannot guarantee him regular first-team football.

PRESTON have warned Celtic they will not land Ireland defender Sean St Ledger on the cheap after claiming the Hoops were nowhere near meeting their valuation of the player.