Preston North End got back to winning ways on Saturday afternoon, beating Plymouth Argyle 1-0 at Home Park.
PNE were beaten by Stoke City last weekend and really needed a response down in Devon.
Ryan Lowe’s first return to Home Park was always bound to be a tricky encounter, especially with Argyle fans desperate to beat their former boss.
North End won it though as Liam Millar – who actually started on the bench – fired home the winner in the first half.
This was an important win for PNE, so let’s dig into five key talking points from the 1-0 victory…
Injuries, injuries and more injuries
Lowe would have been forgiven for thinking that this wasn’t going to be North End’s day.
Ben Whiteman and Alan Browne were ruled out through injuries and Emil Riis was taken ill despite travelling down for the game.
In came Milutin Osmajic up top, but he then picked up an injury of his own inside the first 10 minutes.
Lowe was remarkably dealt another blow as Brad Potts – brought back into the lineup after a recent injury – felt a hamstring issue.
Two injuries inside the first 20 minutes, on top of the existing injury list, just felt like a cruel joke being played on North End.
Criticised players step up
The injuries meant that other players had to step up and that’s exactly what happened.
We have to give huge praise to both Robbie Brady and Ryan Ledson here.
The duo have come in for criticism from sections of the fanbase this season but turned in strong displays against Argyle.
Brady’s defensive work rate was incredible, recording five tackles and five clearances alongside one shot, one key pass and one successful dribble.
Ledson was given the captaincy on Saturday with Lowe backing his man to come up with a big performance with Whiteman out.
The former Everton man has his doubters but he was superb on Saturday, recording four tackles, two interceptions, one clearance and one blocked shot.
PNE showed that it’s a real squad game and Lowe will be ecstatic that two much-maligned players this season really stepped up in a big win.
Milutin Osmajic momentum hit again
You have to feel sorry for Milutin Osmajic.
The Montenegrin striker had enjoyed a strong start to life at PNE before an injury against Middlesbrough hit him in November.
Osmajic struggled to get his momentum back after that blow and only ended a 15-game goal drought with a fine header against Stoke City last weekend.
Riis being out with an illness handed Osmajic a chance to shine, an opportunity to really gather steam heading into the end of his first season in English football.
Instead, Osmajic picked up an early ankle injury and his first start since January 13th ended after just six minutes.
We can only hope that Osmajic hasn’t suffered a major injury and that he is back in action soon as Saturday’s injury was a cruel, cruel blow.
Layton Stewart promising
Millar came on for Osmajic but the injury to Potts meant Millar moved over to wing back and Layton Stewart came on up top.
The summer signing from Liverpool has been brought along slowly this season as PNE help him adjust to life in the Championship.
Stewart has yet to start a Championship game but he played more minutes against Argyle – 71 – than across the rest of the entire campaign.
The 21-year-old worked hard alongside Will Keane, posed a real threat up top and came so close to opening his North End account, striking the base of the post with a fine strike.
Stewart is in a great place to learn; he’s around two experienced EFL strikers every day in Keane and Ched Evans, and playing under Lowe – a man who has seen it all from his playing days as a striker.
Stewart showed on Saturday that he is progressing well and that he can make an impact when called upon before the end of the season.
Big push needed after international break
A win at Home Park keeps PNE’s play-off hopes alive but there needs to be a huge push when Championship action returns.
North End’s final five games are against Norwich City, Southampton, Queens Park Rangers, Leicester City and West Bromwich Albion.
That is a gruelling run-in and North End need to pick up points from games against Rotherham United, Birmingham City, Watford and Huddersfield Town after the break.
The injury list will hopefully clear up a little over the next couple of weeks and Lowe will want to see PNE really give this run a good go rather than let the season fizzle out.