A performance that Preston North End should back up -Tom Sandells' verdict after Carabao Cup win at Huddersfield Town

Two goalless games to start the season had people thinking of what might have been with North End having good chances in both games to find the back of the net.

Other than scoring, they have done well so far but the goals needed to flow to back up their performances.

That’s exactly what happened on Tuesday as they put four past the Terriers – goals from Troy Parrott, Ali McCann and Brad Potts – with Jordan Rhodes netting a consolation for the hosts.

Particularly in the first half, it was as good as you can get from the Lilywhites. They were putting on an exhibition of high intensity pressing, crisp first touches and sharp passes.

Whatever they tried to do with the ball was coming off, be it controlling the ball at chest height and lobbing it over their marker to the feet of a teammate or holding their ground and making a tackle, which, is they got it wrong, would likely see them booked.

It was a joy to watch, PNE were simply all over Huddersfield and the home side could not cope.

Ryan Lowe opted for a 4-3-2-1 formation, with Parrott leading the line. It was a chance for the Irishman to open his account, as Lowe felt there would be goals in the game for him, and that is how it proved.

He was in the right place at the right time to turn home a rebound from Ryan Ledson’s shot but his all-round game was very good. His first touch is near immaculate, especially when running at pace which would be the hardest but most important time for a striker to bring the ball in.

Like the previous two games though, he did delay a little too much when presented with a chance at goal which saw him snuffed out – speeding things up slightly could have seen him on four goals this season instead of one but they are promising signs nonetheless.

It was another loanee that caught the eye really, Alvaro Fernandez. It was the Spaniard’s first start for the club after a couple of enterprising cameos and he stole the show in the first 45.

His pace and energy on the ball was infectious but it was backed up with quality as he laid two on a plate for Ali McCann – the second a carbon copy of the first.

He will certainly be pushing Robbie Brady for the starting spot this season. An ankle injury saw his early withdrawal but that was said to be a precaution, so Lowe may well have a headache for the trip to Luton.

The man to benefit from Fernandez’s crosses was the other standout on the night, with McCann starting in one of the two no.10 roles.

He timed his runs to perfection to just sidefoot the ball home from close range but he was good in every area of his game. His tackling is always a strong point but he kept the ball very well and covered so much ground.

There have been calls for him to start and it’s easy to see why on that performance, whether he will break into the Championship side or not remains to be seen.

The result had been coming, it was only a matter of time before PNE got their goal and got their season started. The Terriers were a little unfortunate that everything clicked in the way that it did for the Lilywhites as anyone in their way would have struggled.

Praise should not just be given for scoring the goals, as PNE will often create good chances, but their performances as a whole was top quality.

There was a gulf between the victors and last season’s play-off finalists – with six changes to the side.

Backing it up will be the bigger test, at Luton where things definitely did not go to plan last time.

Lowe has plenty of options to choose from, particularly with the performances of McCann and Fernandez, and even a different shape potentially.

Now the first win is out of the way, it’s time for the first points of the season, and the bar has been set.

North End scored after just six minutes, patient build up was followed by a change of pace and Ledson tried his luck from the edge of the box, with Parrott haring after the rebound to turn it into the far corner.

Just seconds later Brad Potts saw a goal of the season contender cannon back off the woodwork - forward from right wing back, he lashed a cross from the far side at goal and it hit both the crossbar and the post before bouncing safe.

After 19 minutes PNE had their second, Alvaro Fernandez got down the outside down the left and fizzed a low cross into the centre for the onrushing McCann who side-footed the ball into the back of the net.

It was rinse and repeat after 29 minutes after more fine football in the build up saw the sparkling Fernandez away down the left again and his cross into the centre was again met by McCann who finished off the repeat.

Early into the second half PNE made it four as Potts latched onto a loose pass out from the back, carrying the ball 20 yards to the edge of the box and firing for the far corner.

Ton got a goal back later on in the half, Rhodes was released in behind and he showed composure to slot the ball past the onrushing Freddie Woodman.

There were also two debutants for PNE as Jacob Slater and Lewis Leigh came off the bench for their first games for the club, having some through the North End academy.