Preston North End won for the first time in five games as they beat Huddersfield Town 3-1 on Tuesday night.
Their Yorkshire rivals showed exactly why they are battling at the wrong end of the table this season, with The Terriers struggling to have any impact on the game apart from a 15 minute period in the second half.
Straight out of the blocks
After barely mustering an attack in the last three games, Preston had to start this game quick against a side even lower on confidence. On paper this was winnable and Ryan Lowe couldn’t afford to use the same tactics as in the dour game against Norwich City at the weekend.
Captain Alan Browne was up for this match and was lively in the opening three minutes sending a volley wide and having a penalty appeal turned down before popping up for the opener.
Duane Holmes whipped in a left footed cross and Browne looped a header beyond former North End goalkeeper Chris Maxwell.
It was the start of another impressive performance from the captain.
Wonderful second goal created by Millar
If Liam Millar has a good game, then we stand a very decent chance of scoring a few. Back in his more familiar position on the left for this game he had a hand in the next two goals to secure the points.
His work for the second stood out. Picking the ball up in his own half he took it past one player before sprinting down the line. Will Keane made a great run and Millar found him with a beautiful pass with the outside of his right boot.
Keane finished with aplomb to pick up his first goal for over three months.
Millar wasn’t done there as his counter attack led to the third goal which killed the game off. It came at a good time as nerves were starting to kick in.
We nearly let them back in
It didn’t look like Huddersfield were going to cause us many problems. We controlled the first half and needed more of the same after the break.
Darren Moore made three changes at half time and we slowly started to sit back. They had more time on the ball and they had to go for it. A goal seemed inevitable and Danny Ward took his header very well. ‘Here we go again’ would have been a thought running through many a mind in the away end and those watching and listening elsewhere.
Huddersfield pushed for another but luckily Browne played a sumptuous pass for Millar to run on to and then Duane Holmes laid it off for Ben Whiteman to stroke home.
Perhaps Maxwell should have done better for this one but Whiteman used Yuta Nakayama perfectly as a target to curl around. Job done.
A fantastic return for Holmes
A standout player for us all season we should really thank Huddersfield Town for allowing us to take Duane Holmes from them in the summer.
The American certainly showed them what they are missing and it was Holmes sweet Holmes for the midfielder who picked up two assists.
I’ve said it before but his driving runs through the middle of the park are so crucial for us. He only has one thing in mind when he gets the ball. Rarely will you seem him play backwards or even sideways. He wants to get up the pitch. He finds space and the game opens up when he’s on the ball.
Playing in a number 10 or number 8 role makes us look so much more of an attacking threat.
The 29-year-old went off to applause from both sets of fans and has to keep his place for the Watford game.
Make the most of it on Saturday
We’ve got that winning feeling back and we could do with another heading into a difficult period over Christmas.
Watford have been very inconsistent this season, much like ourselves and they don’t represent the same threat at this level as they have in the past.
After winning three first four at Deepdale we’ve only won one of the next six. The home fans need to experience that winning feeling again.
It’s the last game at Deepdale before Christmas and straight after that we have a Yorkshire double against a strong Leeds United team and Sheffield Wednesday who have finally found a bit of form. Both will be backed by a large following and will be tricky games.
Let’s get three points on Saturday and find some form of our own again.