Paul Gallagher salutes Preston North End's penalty ace Daniel Johnson

Johnson stroked home what proved to be the winner in the 21st minute of Friday night’s clash at Deepdale.

He had missed his last spot kick at Reading in November, the first time in a game the Jamaica international had not scored from 12 yards.

Gallagher is one of North End’s other penalty takers, with him sharing duties with Johnson in previous seasons.

In fact in the corresponding fixture against the Robins last year, both of them scored from the spot in a 3-3 draw.

On this occasion, Gallagher said there was no doubt that Johnson was going to take it.

Taylor Moore’s challenge on Scott Sinclair had seen referee Geoff Eltringham point to the spot, pulling play back after initially allowing the advantage.

Gallagher said: “While I knew DJ had missed his last penalty, he’s scored so many others. So there was no chance of him not taking this one.

“I don’t like it when I see players at other clubs trying to wrestle the ball off a player so that they can take it.

“At this club, DJ can take penalties, Scotty Sinclair can and I can. We are in a good place in that respect.

“With this one, DJ got the ball and we let him get on with it, I was so confident he would score and that was the case.

“I thought the ref played the advantage well for the penalty, bringing it back.

“Scotty wins so many penalties because he has got great feet and sucks people in, he moves his body really well.”

After away defeats at Luton and Barnsley, beating Bristol City under the Deepdale lights was much needed.

Gallagher got Sky’s man of the match award, with Declan Rudd and Paul Huntington excellent.

The 36-year-old midfielder said: “Across the board there were good performances.

“That went right through from Declan Rudd up to Sean Maguire and Scotty.

“Josh Earl was making only his second start in however many months it is.

“It was hard to single anyone out, I thought it was a real team effort.

“We could have won by more, at half-time we should have been two or three up.”

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