COOK'S STILL A GAME BOY; In association with COMMERCIAL VEHICLES Lee used to pick Paulo in his Champ Manager side & boss has returned compliment.

Byline: BY ANN GRIPPER

QPR 3

PRESTON 2

LEE COOK used to rate himself as a decent Championship Manager - but he reckons his new boss Paulo Sousa is the real deal.

The Rangers favourite used to make Portuguese midfielder Sousa a regular in his side when he played the classic computer game as a kid, and can hardly believe the roles are reversed in real life.

Sousa has put Cook at the heart of his plans, playing him at the top of a midfield diamond, and that responsibility is helping the 26-year-old get back to his best after injuries wrecked his Premier League hopes at Fulham.

Cook, waiting on a deal being signed this week to make his Loftus Road return permanent, said: "Since the new boss has come in he's revitalised my confidence.

"He's been telling me how good he thinks I am and how important he thinks I am to the team.

"When you've got him telling you that, you know, Paulo Sousa's saying that to you, it just gives you a bit of a boost.

"I go home and tell my dad and everyone else, saying: 'Look, this geezer, I used to buy him on Champ Manager and he's telling me this about me'."

Cook was pulling all the strings in the first half and his perfect centre allowed Heidar Helguson to head Rangers into a 16th-minute lead. After slack defending had allowed Chris Sedgwick to head an equaliser, Cook and the Icelandic loan star combined even more directly to put the Hoops back in front as they stabbed home in a tangle of legs.

Bolton striker Helguson put on the more convincing goal celebration, but Cook claimed: "I hit it then he kicked my foot.

He stole it off me, but he got up and celebrated first so I'd have felt a bit of a wally if I did. He owes me one, definitely."

Preston came out stronger in the second half, and when Radek Cerny clumsily took down Sean St Ledger, Callum Davidson blasted in the penalty on the hour.

But Sousa switched to a flatter midfield for a spell before taking off his full-backs and sending on Dexter Blackstock to play three up-front for the final 10 minutes.

And Blackstock (left) headed home Rowlands' free-kick for his 10th goal of the season.

Rangers are just a point off the play-off spots, and Cook added: "The manager's tactically upstairs really aware and with his coaching and what he tries to get through to you on the pitch, I think we're going to be successful.

"I've had to take a step back again a year but the ultimate aim for me still is Premier League football."

For North End boss Alan Irvine, whose side are a point ahead of Rangers, going home empty-handed was a major disappointment.

He said: "The first half QPR were the better team and I was praying for the halftime whistle to blow before any more damage was done.

"But the second half we were the better team and I honestly expected us to win."

COMPUTER

QPR

PRESTON NORTH END

RANGERS KEEP UP THE FIGHT

50% BALL POSSESSION 50%

FACE TO FACE

9 Corners 3

2 Offside 3

12 Fouls 10

1 Cards 1

SHOTS

2 off target 4

7 on target 2

MAN OF THE MATCH

Paulo Sousa (QPR)

9 Went for broke and it paid off - Rangers are transformed from hesitant Iain Dowie days

VILLAIN OF THE MATCH

Heidar Helguson

(QPR)

8 Cheeky to steal Cook's goal, but if it helps him stay permanently his team mates won't mind

ANORAK

It was Preston midfielder Chris Sedgwick's first goal for 12 months and 45 games

NEXT THREE GAMES

QPR

Friday: Charlton (a) Champs

Sunday: Watford (h) Champs

Sat Jan 3: Burnley (h) FA Cup

PRESTON

Friday: Derby (h) Champs

Sunday: Barnsley (a) Champs

Sat Jan 3: Liverpool (h) FA Cup

CAPTION(S):

ON THE UP Cook leaps on Blackstock after Rangers' late winner