Graham Alexander gives verdict on Greg Docherty's 'flyer' of a debut for Preston North End
Greg Docherty made his debut off the bench against Southampton.
Graham Alexander believes Greg Docherty brought ‘nous’ and ‘experience’ to Preston North End in his debut against Southampton.
The new signing may just be Preston’s good luck charm, because that’s one appearance and one win for the midfielder after Alexander finally picked up three points as manager by defeating Southampton 1-0, thanks to Jordan Thompson’s stunning volley.
Docherty had impressed Alexander in training for nearly two weeks as a free agent to earn his contract, officially signing for the club on Friday. He was thrown straight into the squad and came on for his debut with twenty minutes to go.
North End were fighting for their lives as they fought off intense pressure from the Saints, and Alexander believes it was ‘perfect’ conditions for Docherty to make his first appearance for the club.
He told The Post: “I think it was perfect for him.
“I was considering whether to start him yesterday but I thought it would be really unfair on him, just throwing him in at the deep end against a team like Southampton but we knew that's perfect for him.
“You're holding on to a 1-0 lead, you're playing against a top team and you just need a bit of nous, a bit of experience in there. The whole team would have got a boost from him coming on.”
Reacting to his debut on social media, Docherty wrote in an Instagram post: “First taste of Deepdale as a Preston player off to a flyer! Debut, 3 points and a performance to build on. It’s good to be back.”
Alexander reveals lovely gesture to Ed Nolan
Docherty wasn’t the only substitute Alexander moved to praise, as he also thought defenders Ed Nolan, Caleb Wiley and Jordan Storey all did their part to get the result over the line.
It was a particularly big moment for teenager Nolan, who made his Deepdale debut in a baptism of fire with 25 minutes remaining, yet more than held his own in the face of an attacking onslaught in what must have been a nervy time to come on.
Following on from ensuring the players and staff celebrated Nolan’s first senior appearance at Wrexham last month, everyone took another picture to commemorate his maiden home game, too.
“Others coming on as well,” Alexander said. “Like Jordan Storey at the end.
“Then you get young players like Caleb Wiley and Ed Nolan. Fantastic.
“Lads have just had a picture with him [Nolan] there because it's his home debut, so it's been a really positive day for all of us at the club.”
Preston now have two weeks until their next match away at West Ham on November 21 thanks to the final international break of 2027.