Preston North End midfielder Alan Browne shrugs off ankle injury to help the Lilywhites to victory at Stoke City

Alan Browne holds his ankle during Preston's win over Stoke

Browne gave the Lilywhites the lead at the bet365 Stadium just moments after returning to the pitch after being treated for a bad knock on the ankle.

It was friendly fire in terms of the injury, the Irish midfielder revealing it was team-mate Darnell Fisher who had caught him.

Tom Barkhuizen went on to net the second goal in a 2-0 win, one which kept them in sixth place and closed the gap on second-place Leeds United to three points.

Preston manager Alex Neil gives the travelling PNE fans the thumbs-up

Reflecting on an eventful few minutes in the second half when he went down injured and then scored, Browne said: "I thought it was bad when it first happened and I'd said I would give it a minute or two.

"In those two minutes I managed to get a tap-in. I think the adrenaline got me through the game.

"I actually scored with my bad leg, I shanked it and it went in

"It just fell to me perfectly and that is gold dust for any midfielder or striker, it was good to get another goal.

Tom Barkhuizen scores Preston's second goal at Stoke

"It was Fish who actually caught me. I think he tried to hit James McClean and he hit me instead!

"He could have been sent-off if he had hit the right person. He was probably lucky it was me to be honest.

"It is not anything serious tI don't think."

Soon after Browne's opener, there was a flare-up in midfield when Ben Pearson was barged in the back by McClean, prompting a furious reaction from Pearson.

Both Pearson and McClean were yellow carded by referee John Brooks.

Browne said: "I tried to grab Pearo but there were about 15 players trying to do that, so it was difficult.

"It happens in football, it adds a bit of bite to the game.

"Pearo is red mist for 90 minutes to be fair, he plays the game like an animal!

"When something like that happens he doesn't like it.

"He's has a bit of history with James McClean in the past, they don't particularly like each other.

"It is what it is, you have to get on with it.

"Coming away to places like that, it is all about results rather than performances. It was a snatch and grab in the end but we will take them every day of the week."