Peterborough United boss Darren Ferguson has admitted that he wanted to sign Cameron Archer long before Preston managed to land the striker.
North End travelled down to Peterborough on Saturday afternoon, seeking another great away day under Ryan Lowe.
It wasn’t a game for the football purists as a difficult playing surface made for a very difficult game.
Preston had the key moment of quality though as striker Archer bent a superb left-footed strike past Steven Benda late in the game.
That’s now three goals in six games for Archer since joining North End in January, making a huge impact for Lowe’s side.
The win piles pressure on former Preston boss Ferguson, whose Peterborough side are in real danger of heading straight back to League One.
Ferguson is clinging onto his job and will have been especially gutted to see Archer bag the winning goal at the Weston Homes Stadium.
Ferguson has admitted to the Peterborough Telegraph that he targeted a deal to sign Archer on loan from Aston Villa before the January window even opened.
However, Preston swooped in and managed to strike a deal for Archer.
North End boss Lowe is close with Villa counterpart Steven Gerrard, and they may have just helped Preston win the race.
Ferguson noted that Archer’s goal was a moment of pure quality, cursing that he was playing for North End on Saturday and not for Peterborough.
“He’s a player we tried to sign. We tried to sign him before January even started but he wasn’t available at that time,” said Ferguson. “It happens, it’s the way it goes and as soon as he’s hit it, it’s a goal. I was right behind it and there was nothing Steven can do. It’s a bit of quality and not a mistake from us,” he added.