7 Dieng: Early injury scare when he needed treatment. If he was at all in pain, at least he wasn’t tested. Preston had one shot on target.

8 Dijksteel: Confident display that will do his chances going forward no harm whatsoever. Linked up well with Crooks and Jones on that right side.

8 Van den Berg: Solid defensive showing and got his first Boro goal.

7 McNair: Calm, assured display in the middle of an unfamiliar backline.

7 Bangura: Wasn’t tested defensively which gave him the chance to join in with the attack at every opportunity. Full of running. Late goal a surprise boost.

7 Howson: Covered well, allowing the attackers and full-backs to thrive.

8 Barlaser: Had a hand in both of Jones’ goals. Showed a calm head for the first to pass to Crooks when he could have gone for glory. Made Boro tick.

9 Jones: Two classy finishes. Was denied hat-trick by fine Woodman save. His display wasn’t just about his goals. Was a constant threat on the right.

8 Crooks: Created the first goal with inch-perfect through-ball. Linked everything together in the first half.

8 Rogers: Took his chance and will almost certainly start at Leeds in absence of Greenwood. A lot of clever touches, assist for Jones’ second.

7 Latte Lath: His pace and movement terrorised Preston. The striker’s run and pass for Crooks won the corner that led to second goal.

Substitutes:

7 Silvera (for Jones, 70): Bright from the bench.

7 Greenwood (for Rogers, 70): Was in the mood to make an impact. Free-kick hit the wall and shot blocked.

Gilbert (for Crooks, 82): N/A

Clarke (for McNair, 82): N/A

McCabe (for Howson, 87): N/A

Subs not used: Glover,, Coburn, Coulson, Cartwright

Preston: Woodman 7, Potts 5, Lindsay 4, Storey 4, Hughes 4, Best 5 (Woodburn, 64); Ledson 5 (Whatmough, 88), Whiteman 5; Keane 4 (Ramsay, 46), Frokaer 5 (Stewart, 88), Osmajic 5 (Evans, 46)

Subs not used: Cornell, Bauer, Browne, Evans, Holmes

Man of the Match: Isaiah Jones. Took his goal tally to five for the season with brilliant first half double. With key attacking players ruled out, Jones in this form is a major boost for Boro.