Sweet moment for PNE matchwinner Hugill

Jordan Hugill admitted it was a '˜sweet' moment to discover his goal against Blackburn had ended Preston North End's 37-year wait for a victory at Ewood Park.
Preston North End's Jordan Hugill celebrates scoring his side's winning goalPreston North End's Jordan Hugill celebrates scoring his side's winning goal
Preston North End's Jordan Hugill celebrates scoring his side's winning goal

The striker volleyed PNE into a 2-1 lead in Saturday’s derby clash, an advantage they held on to in front of 7,000 travelling fans.

It was their first win on Rovers territory since March 1979 and put them 10 points clear of their Lancashire rivals.

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“I didn’t know that we had not won at Blackburn for such a long time,” said Hugill.

Preston North End's Jordan Hugill celebrates scoring his side's winning goalPreston North End's Jordan Hugill celebrates scoring his side's winning goal
Preston North End's Jordan Hugill celebrates scoring his side's winning goal

“It is always good to score goals, regardless of where they are at but the importance of this one makes it a little bit sweeter.”

Hugill, 23, struck in the run-up to half-time, a fine cross from Paul Gallagher finding him.

North End had fallen behind to an early goal from Elliott Ward.

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Joe Garner equalised from the penalty spot after Shane Duffy handled a Hugill shot on the line and was sent-off.

Preston North End's Jordan Hugill celebrates scoring his side's winning goalPreston North End's Jordan Hugill celebrates scoring his side's winning goal
Preston North End's Jordan Hugill celebrates scoring his side's winning goal

Said Hugill: “It was a bit strange with me scoring with my feet, it is normally my head.

“Gally put a great ball in and I knew if I got a good connection anywhere in the middle of the goal, it had a chance of going in.

“It went in and it turned out to be a great for us.

“To get the two goals back from being 1-0 down shows the character we have got in the squad.

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“It has happened a few times now, we have gone 1-0 down and fought back to get a win.”

Hugill felt the only thing missing from his goal was being able to celebrate it in front of the travelling supporters

“The goals came at the other end but as long as they go in, it doesn’t matter,” he said.

“We had the Alan Shearer-style celebration and if I had the legs on me, I would have sprinted from the top end of the pitch down to where our fans were!

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Hugill has four goals to his name this season, his last coming in the derby win at Bolton.

This was his third start in a row, with him getting the nod over Eoin Doyle to start.

“I’m always confident in myself, if I’m given a chance I will give everything I have got to either get a goal or put in a performance to help the team,” said Hugill.

“In some games I have scored a goal and done well, in others I have not scored but have held the ball up well and played a part in the team doing well.

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“It is a case of six and two threes really, as a striker you want to score goals but if you have another side to your game too, that can help the team.

“It was hard work out there, Blackburn have some big lads at the back.

“In this division, the standard of defending is better, the defenders are stronger and position themselves better to stop you getting as many chances.

“But I’m not one to shy away from a good scrap and I’ll get stuck in.

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“This win means we have a good record in the derby games this season and we have another coming up against Burnley soon.”

North End are back in action tomorrow night when they host Fulham at Deepdale.

Simon Grayson reported a clean bill of health from the win over Blackburn, with Alan Browne and Paul Huntington both having returned to action at Ewood Park to boost the numbers.