Leon Cort inspires Preston to rare clean sheet

LEON Cort helped Preston keep only their second clean sheet in the Championship this season on Saturday.

The Clarets centre back joined North End on loan on Thursday until December 31st, and made his debut at Deepdale against Millwall in a goal-less draw.

It was Darren Ferguson’s side’s first clean sheet since August, and the Preston boss said: “We have to try and build on the fact we have kept a clean sheet.

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“If we can get to the 50-point mark this season, we will be okay.

“That means we have to find 35 more points or near enough that.

“I do think we are a lot stronger now as a squad than we were a few weeks ago.

“You always have to look at positives which you can build on, and in this case it was the clean sheet.”

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Kevin McDonald was also in action, as Scunthorpe United slipped to a 2-0 defeat at home to Coventry City.

The Scotland Under 21 midfielder has now started the last three games for the Iron, completing the 90 minutes in all three.

He was on target on his first start in defeat against Cardiff.

Richard Eckersley was inactive as Bradford City were without a game, having been knocked out of the FA Cup by Colchester, likewise Wes Fletcher after Stockport’s replay defeat at Peterborough.

But Kevin Long appeared for Accrington Stanley in their FA Cup exit at Port Vale - Burnley’s opponents in the third round - on Friday night.