Simon Whaley handed Preston a lift on Saturday with the goal that sent them into the FA Cup fourth round at the expense of Scunthorpe.Whaley struck from a tight angle just after the break at Deepdale to settle a tie that could have gone either way.

Scunthorpe went close with Martin Paterson, who scored at Preston on Boxing Day, denied only by goalkeeper Andy Lonergan's left foot and team-mate Paul Hayes missing a sitter.

Preston manager Alan Irvine, who revealed afterwards he had just 17 players to choose from following the departure of three strikers in the last week, was pleased with the result.

He said: "It was a very important game. People were asking if it was a relief from the league, but it wasn't.

"I felt the same before the game as I have felt before all the games. The FA Cup is a special competition and the third round is a special day.

"I am delighted to have won. Would I have swapped it for three points in the League? I'd like both.

"I hope we get a home draw at Deepdale. What that means exactly I'm not quite sure, but it would be nice to get one of the big teams playing here."

The manager had a word of praise for scorer Whaley, who has now bagged four goals in a little over half a dozen games.

Irvine said: "When I first came in I was told Simon was very low and having a few problems and that his form wasn't good. I think he is getting better and better now."

The manager also hailed Lonergan for keeping a clean sheet following New Year's Day disappointment against Sheffield Wednesday.

Irvine added: "I said it was important that he get that game out of his mind and move on. I'm delighted he got a clean sheet and made a couple of very good saves.

"The players are obviously feeling an awful lot better than they were last week. They have gone home happy.

"I am able to give them a couple of days off as well - it's been really tough for them physically and mentally to churn out one game after another.

"On the transfer front we think we are getting closer on a few things. We obviously need to get players in within our budget, both in terms of transfer fees and wages. And we have to get them in very quickly."

Scunthorpe manager Nigel Adkins, who had already scored a league double over Preston this season, admitted he felt 'absolutely gutted'.

He said: "We are out of the Cup and we should be in the fourth round. The game was there to be won and we should have done that.

"Preston's goal was a poor one from our point of view. The first half we set ourselves up by creating opportunities. We tried to play decent football with a horrible football, and the pitch was not really conducive to great passing.

"You have to put the ball in the back of the net. If you don't you get punished.

"You can play all the prettiest football in the world, but you have to be ruthless with it and put the ball in the net. We have to be more ruthless when we get chances. We missed a great chance today."

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