'Really good day' - What Paul Heckingbottom said after Preston North End's win at Charlton Athletic

Preston North End boss Paul Heckingbottom was proud of his side after Saturday’s 2-1 comeback win at Charlton.

On Gentry Day, the Lilywhites fell behind on 18 minutes when the ball dropped to Joe Rankin-Costello from a long-throw and he slammed home. But, Aston Villa loan star Lewis Dobbin soon equalised with a precise header and Brad Potts struck the winning goal just after the hour mark - finishing off a lethal counter-attack.

Post-match, Heckingbottom said: “Yeah, really pleased. Hard-earned, we had to show everything I think. The game started fast, it was a to-and-fro game. Then after they scored, I felt like we got a lot more control of the game. We were really, really good, scored a good goal, created some good opportunities and came out in the second half the same.

“But whenever you can't get that two-goal margin, you know you're going to have to defend at some point. Nathan (Jones) put his big men on and I feel Charlton are at their most dangerous, or most threatening when they go direct. So, it made for a nervy finish and we had to defend the box then as well.

“There were some really good challenges, really good headers, blocks - which we expect to do, and we know we've got to do it. We stood up to it... probably the only criticism there is we didn't get out to the ball quick enough and stop the balls in. But yeah, we were good value and it's a really good day for us.

“They're all worth three points, but I always say an away win is a different feeling. You know you've got to earn it. Celebrating with your fans when you come into someone else's ground, I've always loved it from playing. For it to be on Gentry Day as well, which is a special day for the club and one that I really like... the initiative of it, the club and the fans.

“I hope it continues forever so, for us to send everyone home happy on a day like that as well is good. I really value it. I really like that because it means something to us, to the club, to the fans. Everyone attaches their own meaning to the day as well. There'll be people who’ve come down here for people who aren't here anymore.

“People who have come down here and made the extra effort because of the day. So yeah, I think it's a really good thing that happens. I still remember clear as day following Barnsley, home and away, going with Grandad or whatever. There'll be a lot of people with those memories thinking about that today. So yeah, I think it's special.”

Dobbin netted his ninth goal of the campaign and for Potts, it was his second in as many games. The number 44 has had a rare, injury-hit year but Heckingbottom has always emphasised the goal threat he carries.

On his goal scorers, Heckingbottom said: “His (Dobbin’s) energy is great. He sometimes beats himself up if he loses possession, or doesn't get the final pass right, but he's a threat all game and we want him in those positions. I want him risking the ball to make the final pass.

“You can see that, the energy to get across for the goal - really well worked. And then on the break, Pottsy does what he does. It was a good way to get Pottsy and Andy in the team because they’ve both scored (in recent games).

“So, really pleased for him as well. The weight of that ball for Pottsy just invited the first time finish. A big strength is him on the counter and away from home, you tend to get more of those opportunities. Pottsy is one of the best in the league at that.”

Praise for PNE’s approach and commitment

“You know I'm critical of us when I need to be, but you also know I defend them when we give everything, and they do,” said Heckingbottom. “We make mistakes, sometimes we're not great, but they will give everything.

“Today, I think they really enjoyed the demands we put on them. We did loads of running again in the last home game, but I felt we were too safe: Not enough forward passes, forward runs, played in front of the block too much. But today, they were very good.”

On bringing Daniel Jebbison in for Milutin Osmajic, the PNE boss added: “Yeah (for freshness) and it's competition. It wasn't one of Milly's best games in the last game and we're pushing him to be better. He knows that, but he is always that goal threat.

“And again, Milly always works his socks off for the team as well, so it's that competition. Dobbo was going to play because Dobbo was good in the last game, and again, pushing him to get the goals, get the assists. He's got to finish strong as well.”