Yu Hirakawa controversially gave Bristol City a helping hand in their 3-1 victory over Preston in the Sky Bet Championship.
The 23-year-old used his hand to take the ball away from Preston goalkeeper Freddie Woodman to score a sixth-minute opener for the visitors.
Sam Greenwood’s free-kick in the 48th minute levelled proceedings but Nahki Wells’ header quickly put the Robins back in front and Max Bird sealed the points late on, condemning Paul Heckingbottom to his first league defeat at Deepdale since becoming Preston manager.
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Bristol City’s goal against Preston stands after blatant handball from Yu Hirakawa.
North End had conceded eight goals in their last three games coming into this fixture and Heckingbottom would still have been frustrated with his players at the back, despite the impending controversy.
Liam Lindsay and Woodman both failed to take charge of Jordan Storey’s header backwards and Hirakawa punched the ball past the Preston goalkeeper before rolling into an empty net.
Bristol City were looking comfortable in their defensive shape but Haydon Roberts, who came on as a first-half substitute for the injured George Tanner, was called into brilliant last-ditch action on the stroke of the interval, sliding low to divert Greenwood’s superb cross away from the foot of Mads Frokjaer at the far post.
Yu Hirakawa is congratulated by his team-mates after scoring for Bristol City at Preston
However, minutes after the interval, Preston’s territorial pressure did reap its rewards and it was the lively Greenwood who delivered.
Luke McNally initially brought the 22-year-old down on the edge of the box and Greenwood picked himself up to slam the resulting free-kick past Max O’Leary at his near post, making it three goals in his last three league matches for the Lilywhites.
It was the perfect start to the second half for the hosts but, inexplicably, they found themselves behind just four minutes later as Wells was left free in the centre of the box to guide a header into the far corner for his fourth goal of the season.
Efficiency was the word of the day with three goals from just three shots on target but O’Leary did get his gloves a little dirty on the hour mark, comfortably claiming a tame Lindsay header at the back post.
But the game could have been wrapped up just three minutes later as Bird dragged wide from a great position after being picked out by Hirakawa.
This truly felt like foreshadowing as Bird again linked up with his Japanese team-mate in the 82nd minute and, from an almost identical position to his chance earlier, the midfielder wrapped the match up with a powerful finish into the far corner.
The managers
Preston’s Paul Heckingbottom:
“We’ll get another apology. We’ve had two apologies for two bad decisions at Millwall. We’ve had an apology for a bad decision at Burnley. We’ll get another one for that I’m sure and they’ll get more games to referee.
“There’s nothing we can do about it. It’s diabolical. It’s unacceptable. We keep getting the wrong end of it but hopefully it evens itself out.
“My frustrations are that, as good as we were in the first half, the tone of the game was set by [that decision]. They came and defended really well and looked to counter.
“In the second half, we got ourselves right back in the game and then at that point I was really confident we were going to go on and win but, three minutes later, we give a poor goal away from our point and we’re back in that tone of the game that the referee set in the first half.”
Bristol City’s Liam Manning:
“The second and third goal are just moments of real outstanding quality that deserve to win the game.
“Some of the movement behind was excellent. Great ball from [Sykes]. Great movement from [Wells]. He’s in a good spot, Nahki, for his age, and when you look at him, he’s in terrific condition for his age.
“I was ready to rip [Bird’s] head off with the one that he missed. It’s been long overdue. I know he’s been frustrated so I’m delighted he’s finally got [his goal].”
