Preston North End striker Ched Evans feels win was important for momentum

It was the second win of pre-season for PNE who had been without a win in their last two games.

Emil Riis scored the only goal of the game, although Evans did win a penalty that Daniel Johnson could not convert.

There are no points handed out for pre-season games but professional pride spurs the North End players on and the winning feeling is important with the Championship opener just two weeks away.

Evans said: “It was good, it was warm but I think getting a win was important to get some momentum going.

"Getting used to this heat is going to be crucial, it was tough in Spain. We played well and created some good chances.

"Their goalkeeper has pulled off some really good saves from me and the big man up top is doing what he's doing.

"Hopefully he can have a better season than he had last season. He's got all the confidence in the world.

"We got a clean sheet anda good win against a side that I think will do really well this year.

"The results don't really matter but as professionals we want to win every game, we don't go out to lose.

"The lads showed they can battle and I think that will be crucial this year.”

Evans came in for his first start of the summer against Accy, though he has featured regularly.

The Welshman only scored twice in the 2021/22 campaign whilst struggling with injury.

He could not muster a continous run of games due to multiple knocks and he missed out on pre-season last summer.

With the addition of Robbie Brady and his crossing quality, Evans is looking to be finding the net more regularly in the upcoming campaign.

He said: “That was my first start this pre-season - I got a finger straight in my eye inside the first 10 minutes so I couldn't see out of my left eye until about 70 minutes.

"It was good coming in, getting on the ball and creating. This season I'll be looking to get on the end of some of those crosses and contributing to the goals.”