Derby County vs Preston North End LIVE: Championship result, final score and reaction

A general view of Pride Park - (Getty Images)

Follow live coverage as Derby County face Preston North End in the Championship today.

An increasingly competitive second tier in English football remains an intense and exciting competition, with the prize of a place in the Premier League on offer at the end of the season.

Relegation from the top flight last term means Luton, Burnley and Sheffield United are all back in the second tier this term and will be expected to push for play-off spots again at least, but so too will Norwich City, an improving Coventry and beaten play-off finalists Leeds United. At the other end of the table, Wayne Rooney is aiming to revive Plymouth’s fortunes after they narrowly avoided relegation last year, with Portsmouth and Derby the teams promoted from League One along with play-off final winners Oxford.

Follow live updates from today’s game in the live blog below.

Derby County FC 2 - 0 Preston North End FC

Derby County vs Preston North End

21:41

Match ends, Derby County 2, Preston North End 0.

Derby County vs Preston North End

21:40

Second Half ends, Derby County 2, Preston North End 0.

Derby County vs Preston North End

21:38

Substitution, Derby County. Kenzo Goudmijn replaces Marcus Harness.

Derby County vs Preston North End

21:38

Fourth official has announced 4 minutes of added time.

Derby County vs Preston North End

21:38

Hand ball by Kane Wilson (Derby County).

Derby County vs Preston North End

21:38

Mads Frökjaer-Jensen (Preston North End) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Derby County vs Preston North End

21:38

Foul by Mads Frökjaer-Jensen (Preston North End).

Derby County vs Preston North End

21:34

Offside, Preston North End. Liam Lindsay is caught offside.

Derby County vs Preston North End

21:34

Corner, Preston North End. Conceded by Nathaniel Phillips.

Derby County vs Preston North End

21:29

Foul by Emil Riis (Preston North End).

Derby County vs Preston North End

21:30

Attempt missed. Marcus Harness (Derby County) right footed shot from outside the box from a direct free kick.

Derby County vs Preston North End

21:28

Foul by Benjamin Whiteman (Preston North End).

Derby County vs Preston North End

21:27

Offside, Derby County. Matt Clarke is caught offside.

Derby County vs Preston North End

21:29

Offside, Derby County. Nathaniel Phillips is caught offside.

Derby County vs Preston North End

21:25

Foul by Ched Evans (Preston North End).

Derby County vs Preston North End

21:23

Foul by Nathaniel Phillips (Derby County).

Derby County vs Preston North End

21:20

Substitution, Preston North End. Ched Evans replaces Lewis Gibson.

Derby County vs Preston North End

21:18

Liam Lindsay (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Derby County vs Preston North End

21:18

Robert Brady (Preston North End) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Derby County vs Preston North End

21:18

Foul by Robert Brady (Preston North End).

Derby County vs Preston North End

21:17

Foul by Ryan Porteous (Preston North End).

Derby County vs Preston North End

21:17

Substitution, Derby County. Kayden Jackson replaces Liam Thompson.

Derby County vs Preston North End

21:07

Attempt missed. Ryan Ledson (Preston North End) right footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Kaine Kesler-Hayden.

Derby County vs Preston North End

21:07

Foul by Emil Riis (Preston North End).

Derby County vs Preston North End

21:07

Corner, Preston North End. Conceded by Callum Elder.

Derby County vs Preston North End

21:03

Substitution, Preston North End. Emil Riis replaces Will Keane.

Derby County vs Preston North End

21:03

Substitution, Preston North End. Benjamin Whiteman replaces Stefán Thórdarson.

Derby County vs Preston North End

21:03

Substitution, Preston North End. Robert Brady replaces Jayden Meghoma.

Derby County vs Preston North End

21:03

Kaine Kesler-Hayden (Preston North End) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Derby County vs Preston North End

20:59

Stefán Thórdarson (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Derby County vs Preston North End

20:58

Goal! Derby County 2, Preston North End 0. Jerry Yates (Derby County) right footed shot from very close range to the high centre of the goal. Assisted by Nathaniel Phillips.

Derby County vs Preston North End

20:59

Attempt blocked. Nathaniel Phillips (Derby County) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Callum Elder with a cross.

Derby County vs Preston North End

20:56

Corner, Derby County. Conceded by Lewis Gibson.

Derby County vs Preston North End

20:54

Goal! Derby County 1, Preston North End 0. Craig Forsyth (Derby County) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner following a corner.

Derby County vs Preston North End

20:53

Corner, Derby County. Conceded by Lewis Gibson.

Derby County vs Preston North End

20:52

Attempt blocked. Marcus Harness (Derby County) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

Derby County vs Preston North End

20:50

Second Half begins Derby County 0, Preston North End 0.

Derby County vs Preston North End

20:35

First Half ends, Derby County 0, Preston North End 0.

Derby County vs Preston North End

20:33

Foul by Mads Frökjaer-Jensen (Preston North End).

Derby County vs Preston North End

20:32

Ryan Porteous (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Derby County vs Preston North End

20:31

Fourth official has announced 4 minutes of added time.

Derby County vs Preston North End

20:31

Corner, Preston North End. Conceded by Marcus Harness.

Derby County vs Preston North End

20:31

Attempt blocked. Kaine Kesler-Hayden (Preston North End) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

Derby County vs Preston North End

20:28

Kaine Kesler-Hayden (Preston North End) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Derby County vs Preston North End

20:26

Offside, Derby County. Kane Wilson is caught offside.

Derby County vs Preston North End

20:24

Corner, Derby County. Conceded by Ryan Porteous.

Derby County vs Preston North End

20:23

Stefán Thórdarson (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Derby County vs Preston North End

20:21

Ryan Ledson (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Derby County vs Preston North End

20:17

Foul by Ryan Porteous (Preston North End).

Derby County vs Preston North End

20:17

Attempt missed. Milutin Osmajic (Preston North End) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Ryan Porteous with a cross.

Derby County vs Preston North End

20:17

Attempt blocked. Milutin Osmajic (Preston North End) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.

Derby County vs Preston North End

20:15

Attempt blocked. Harrison Armstrong (Derby County) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

Derby County vs Preston North End

20:13

Attempt missed. Marcus Harness (Derby County) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box.

Derby County vs Preston North End

20:04

Offside, Derby County. Harrison Armstrong is caught offside.

Derby County vs Preston North End

20:01

Offside, Preston North End. Ryan Porteous is caught offside.

Derby County vs Preston North End

20:01

Liam Thompson (Derby County) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Derby County vs Preston North End

20:00

Ryan Ledson (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Derby County vs Preston North End

19:55

Foul by Will Keane (Preston North End).

Derby County vs Preston North End

19:55

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

Derby County vs Preston North End

19:53

Delay in match because of an injury Callum Elder (Derby County).

Derby County vs Preston North End

19:51

Kaine Kesler-Hayden (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Derby County vs Preston North End

19:50

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

Derby County vs Preston North End

19:50

Substitution, Derby County. Kane Wilson replaces Ryan Nyambe because of an injury.

Derby County vs Preston North End

19:48

Delay in match because of an injury Ryan Nyambe (Derby County).

Derby County vs Preston North End

19:48

Attempt saved. Milutin Osmajic (Preston North End) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner.

Derby County vs Preston North End

19:47

Corner, Derby County. Conceded by Ryan Porteous.

Derby County vs Preston North End

19:46

First Half begins.

Derby County vs Preston North End

19:15

Lineups are announced and players are warming up.

Derby County vs Preston North End

17:45

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