Preston North End Fans’ Panel member John Smith was dancing round his kitchen!

Before Friday’s game I feared the worst thinking that the only joie de vivre in this household that the weekend’s television would provide would come from the identities of Sausage, Robin and Badger being revealed in the final of The Masked Singer.
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This week Alex Neil has had time on the training ground to help bed in some of his new players and it showed with this performance being more like one of his PNE teams of old, and not the one which had won just once in their last seven outings.

His rejuvenated side turned in a workmanlike display as the derby bragging rights were handed back over to the white side of the fence .

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This would have been the biggest away games of the season for almost 7,000 travelling fans in normal times but many like myself would still be dancing round their living rooms and kitchens on Friday night after this fine win.

Preston’s Emil Riis battles with Blackburn Rovers’ Jarrad BranthwaitePreston’s Emil Riis battles with Blackburn Rovers’ Jarrad Branthwaite
Preston’s Emil Riis battles with Blackburn Rovers’ Jarrad Branthwaite

After cruising into a two-goal lead we looked well in control until Rovers were awarded a soft penalty shortly before the break.

The second half saw Rovers press more as they pumped a lot of high balls into our box trying to exploit a weakness which in the past has been our Achilles’ heel.

However on this occasion they were dealt with by a resolute defence and I was impressed by the aerial power of loanee Liam Lindsay, who also headed in our second goal.

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On this display he looks a solid replacement for the departed Ben Davies after this man of the match performance. Greg Cunningham, whose goals are as rare as hen’s teeth, also looked competent on the first start of his second coming and his sensational opening goal certainly got me cackling like I’d just laid a double yolker.

The result is a massive confidence boost for players and fans alike after a recent run of poor results.

It also wiped out the unpleasant memory of the Deepdale loss to Rovers and keeps our faint play-off dreams alive .