Image source, Rex Features

Mark Robins may not be best pleased but we thoroughly enjoyed the first EFL match of the weekend - and we hope you did too.

There's a full fixture list in the EFL on Saturday, including a potentially pivotal Championship encounter between third-placed Ipswich Town and fourth-placed Millwall at Portman Road.

Those teams are level on points and two behind second-placed Middlesbrough, who visit relegation-threatened Blackburn Rovers.

Leaders Coventry City are also at Swansea, and you can follow all of the EFL action live with us tomorrow, when the first games start at 12:30 GMT.

Stoke City

Stoke boss Mark Robins, speaking to Sky Sports: "We lost lots of duels in the first half. We lost 3-1 to a set-play and two counter-attacks. It's really, really poor positioning and defending.

"We've got to get this performance out of our system. [The players] need to be ready to work when they come back in.

"I genuinely hope [the internationals] do well and get the outcomes they're looking for. It gives us one day to work in to the game [at home to Sheffield Wednesday on 3 April].

"It's unbelievable in terms of the calendar and getting players back from long and even short distances. It is what it is.

"I'm just really, really angry about the performance and the fact we've let our supporters down. [The fans] were brilliant - they were right up for the game at the start.

"[Preston] were there for the taking. There was no doubt they were on the back foot; we let them on the front foot and threw the game away."

On Preston midfielder Ben Whiteman's challenge on Sorba Thomas: "He caught him. From our perspective, you just don't know what the referee's going to do.

"He's decided to give him a yellow and we get on with it. There's no bleating about anything - we didn't deserve anything."

Stoke City

Stoke boss Mark Robins, speaking to Sky Sports: "We didn't start brilliantly and we got our noses in front with a really good run and great ball in for Sorba [Thomas].

"He finished it really well but we hadn't started great and we were giving the ball away. When you're playing on a tricky pitch against these opponents, you have to be able to deal with their physicality.

"We just allowed ourselves to be bullied at times and pulled back, not trying to force the issue.

"There are probably seven or eight of our players going away on internationals and I always get suspicious at this time - I don't think we've won, going into an international break.

"We've let our supporters down, there's no doubt about it. That performance isn't anything like one of my teams, one of our teams. It's just poor."

Preston North End

Preston boss Paul Heckingbottom, speaking to Sky Sports: "It's a relief. You want to win every game, but everyone who's been in this league for a long time knows you can have these [poor] runs.

"What you can't do is panic. You have to be really honest about what you're getting right and wrong."

Here's what's to come in tomorrow's Championship action:

• Blackburn v Middlesbrough (12:30 GMT)
• Derby v Birmingham (12:30 GMT)
• Ipswich v Millwall (12:30 GMT)
• Bristol City v West Brom
• Charlton v Norwich
• Hull v Sheffield Wednesday
• QPR v Portsmouth
• Sheffield United v Wrexham
• Southampton v Oxford
• Watford v Leicester
• Swansea v Coventry (17:15 GMT)

Preston North End

Preston boss Paul Heckingbottom, speaking to Sky Sports: "A great win and great performance, thoroughly deserved.

"It's been a long wait and we've had to be patient, but on that run we've had games when we've played as well as that but not got the win, as well as games when we've played poorly and been beaten. We've had to believe that's the type of performance we need to keep producing.

"We started well, put Stoke under pressure, won a few set-plays and made them defend. From their first break, they get a goal.

"Pol [Valentin] slips and it's a good finish, but I think that was their only shot on target in the first half.

"We responded really well, got ourselves back in the game through Alfie [Devine] with a really good counter.

"We showed the energy and desire we needed to show without the ball. The lads were still really organised and determined to win the ball, and then really positive with it.

"It's a difficult pitch to play on. We know that. We've not said much about it but it does affect how you play.

"We were getting the ball forward early and trying to force the issue, which you've got to do on there."

Image source, Opta

Here's how the Championship looks after Preston's win tonight, with North End leapfrogging Stoke to move eight points from the play-off places.

None of Preston's next four matches are against opponents higher than 17th so they could well get themselves back into the top-six picture.

Funny old league...

Mike Sheron
Former Stoke City striker on BBC Radio Stoke

The lads have got to find the solutions to the problems they've got at the moment.

Preston made it really difficult for Stoke to create any decent chances, but it never seems to go the other way.

I feel there's an opportunity for some of the returning injured players to say this is what you're missing out on.

There's got to be more competition for the places in the team, and I think Mark Robins needs to use that to his advantage.

Preston North End

Preston midfielder Ben Whiteman, speaking to Sky Sports: "We've been needing that since January. We've not been good enough but we had a chance to put it right tonight and we did."

On receiving a yellow rather than red card for a first-half tackle on Sorba Thomas: "It was a poor one. I've apologised to Sorba.

"I did catch him but it wasn't one I was meaning to do - it was more about stopping the counter-attack. It was probably a bit high."

On Preston fans' support: "The performance dictates that. We were excellent for the whole game.

"[Stoke's] goal was a sucker-punch. We were outstanding and the fans got behind us."

Preston North End

Two-goal Preston midfielder Alfie Devine, speaking to Sky Sports: "I got two chances and took them. It's up to us to now keep going. Our form hasn't been great but hopefully we can kick on. It was a much-needed win."

On his solo run and finish for the equaliser: "I was absolutely knackered when I hit it. They were very similar goals. We worked on attacking the space in behind during the week."

Alan Kelly
Former Preston keeper on BBC Radio Lancashire

Image source, Shutterstock

What a huge relief around Deepdale, the fans have stayed to clap the team off.

We scored three great goals. Alfie Devine was man of the match for me, Lewis Dobbin was a close second. They set the tempo well today, and they let their ability get them the goals.

Out of possession we were so compact, Devine drove on a lot of the players on the pitch tonight and he scored two fantastic goals.

There was so many positives today, they need to make sure they don't take a step back now and keep taking steps forward.

Image source, Shutterstock

Preston come from behind to end their four-match losing run!

Sorba Thomas's finish as part of an incisive move gave Stoke an early lead but Alfie Devine's solo goal shortly afterwards, Milutin Osmajic's second-half header and Devine's deft chip for his second send Preston 12th.

The home players celebrate. Mark Robins and his side clap the away fans, whose team are now a point behind North End in 14th.

More nerve-jangling for Preston. Bae Junho makes a darting run inside the box on the left and crosses for Jesurun Rak-Sakyi, who hooks in a looping shot from a difficult angle.

Daniel Iversen spills the high ball. Stoke cannot capitalise.

Image source, Shutterstock

Mark Robins crosses his arms after Stoke's latest cross comes to nothing.

Paul Heckingbottom orchestrates his players. The top half of the Championship awaits his side.

Anywhere will do for Preston, who clear for a corner again.

Daniel Iversen punches successive Sorba Thomas corners away.

Thomas jogs over to take a throw-in on the opposite flank. Bae Junho wins a free-kick in a dangerous crossing position, Odel Offiah making the foul.

Daniel Iversen makes a mess of a clearance on a bobbling pitch. Stoke corner.