Boss Dean Saunders hailed match-winner Lee Fowler after his late volley earned Crawley a priceless 2-1 victory over Preston at the Checkatrade.com Stadium.

Fowler fired home from the edge of the area in the 87th minute after coming off the bench to make his debut just 24 hours after signing on loan from Nuneaton.

The goal – which came after Paul Huntington had cancelled out Anthony Wordsworth’s opener - earned Reds their first win in 16 games and lifted them off the foot of the League One table.

Saunders said: “We had a lot of chances in the second half and when Lanre (Oyebanjo) hit the bar I thought it was not going to be our day.

“But then Lee came on and scored a really good goal so perhaps my luck is changing. It was a great strike and shows the talent Lee has got.

“He is probably more talented than anybody in this league but has wasted it. I’ve had him before (at Wrexham and Doncaster) and hopefully I can bring the best out of him.

“It was an important result. We really needed to end this run we’ve been on and get three points and hopefully that will give the players confidence that what I am telling them is right.”