Duncan Barkes

But there it is, an interesting little curiosity which is set to become flesh in the not-too-distant future.

Two managers called Still, brothers.

I wonder if Will went for the Watford job and they told him, no, we've got somebody better lined up.

Alfie Devine's goal ended Portsmouth's four-match unbeaten run and moved Preston North End back to the fringes of the play-off places.

The Tottenham Hotspur low-knee headed in the only goal in a tight encounter to give the Deepdale fans only their second win in the last eight home league games.

The Lily Whites' new club record signing Callum Lang was not fit to play against his former club, who remain in relegation trouble despite their improved recent form.

Portsmouth boss John Massinio was furious however, as referee Adam Herchegg failed to award a penalty after Jordan Story had clumsily brought down Adrian Sigecic just inside the penalty area.

Pompey travelled north with some confidence, despite a 53-year wait for a win at Deepdale, after last week's victory over West Bromwich Albion, and an unexpected midweek rest following the postponement of their fixture against Ipswich Town.

They also handed a debut to deadline-day signing Jacob Brown, and brought on Santos winger Gustavo Caballero in a squad revamped over the winter transfer window.

They had allowed shot for a penalty, with Segecic seemingly fouled by Story, but the unsighted official waved it away, leaving Pompey players with heads in hands, and Messinho livid on the touchline.

Preston's play-off push has been flagging but Devine got it back on track, seeing one deflected shot loop narrowly wide before he was unmarked to arc a header into the top corner from an excellent Andrija Vukcevic cross.

.

Goalkeeper David Cornell ensured the lead was intact at half-time with a superb diving save from Andre Dozel, who claimed the winner when the sides met at Fratton Park in August.

Pompey dominated the second half but largely wasted their 14 corners, and when they did get one right, Malenik Ali swung and missed when the ball fell at his feet 10 yards out.

Eboo Adams' header was cleared off the line Ali had another close-range shot blocked and then saw his cross fired over the bar by Mackenzie Kirk as Preston threatened to crumble under the siege.

It intensified in added time as John Swift's in-swinging corner was tipped onto the crossbar by Cornell, and from the resulting set-piece, Connor Ogilvie's header was saved by the Preston keeper.

Preston debutant Andy Moran, on as a substitute, missed a great chance to settle it deep in added time as he raced clear, only for Pompey keeper Nico Schmid to sprint out and block his shot.

The Preston chief executive, the ever-controversial Peter Ridsdale, has been batting away criticism of his latest club's transfer activity, specifically the purchase of Callum Lang.

Preston 1 Pompey 0 and I was geared up to say that that was a goalless draw that we lost because it was wasn't it it was a goalless draw it had goalless draw written all over it the weather the state of their pitch the state of their pitch but it was a goalless draw and then the last part of the game particularly the last 10 or 15 minutes it was our game

And we could not only have equalised, we could have won it.