PNE claimed a big scalp

The promotion-chasing Owls arrived at Deepdale as the Championship’s highest scorers and on the back of a seven-game unbeaten run in the league.

However, Grayson’s men produced their strongest home display of the campaign to win 1-0, Joe Garner’s 73rd minute header proving decisive.

North End moved up to 10th place in the division and have taken points off all nine clubs above them.

Tomorrow night, they turn their attention to a side at the other end of the table, with rock bottom Charlton the visitors to Deepdale.

Grayson said: “Sheffield Wednesday are going well and you saw how big their following was.

“It was a great game to watch, there was some good football played, lots of energy, with proper tackles going in – it was proper football.

“We have taken a big scalp in winning the game, it was a big result for us.”

The visitors played the last 25 minutes with 10 men after Fernando Forestieri saw red for two bookings.

He got his first caution for simulation, going to ground far too easily in the eyes of referee Keith Stroud when trying to go past Paul Gallagher.

The Italian then got his marching orders for deliberate handball – he stuck out an arm in an attempt to steer a cross into the net.

Grayson felt Mr Stroud had made the correct decision but it was a different view within the visitors’ camp.

“I think it was a sending-off, I’m led to believe that he has gone down easily for the first one,” said Grayson.

“You only have to look at the reaction of six or seven of my players for the second one when the las has handled it.

“It was the right decision, I thought the referee handled the game well, he got the major decisions right.”

Grayson decided to go with the 3-5-1-1 system which has been used to good effect in away games but not always at Deepdale.

Adam Reach played as the second striker behind Garner, with Calum Woods and Greg Cunningham providing the width in wing-back roles.

“I felt the system suited us, it has worked well away at Derby and Wolves,” said Grayson.

“We tweaked a few things during the week in training to see if it could work at home.

“Sometimes the wing-back system doesn’t work for us here but we knew how Wednesday would play and how it could suit us.

“We got some people a little bit further forward and that worked well.

“Every player carried out the instructions, we caused them problems.

“The wing-backs did very well and are versatile lads. Calum Woods went in for a couple of tackles which watching, I thought ‘I might have pulled out of that myself’!

“He is a bit of an unsung hero with certain people and within the squad is well liked.”