Winger reveals his PNE goal

Adam Reach is aiming to add more goals to his game

The winger has scored three times in his last seven games, the latest being against Brentford.

By his own admission, that one was something of a personal collector’s item.

“It was with my right foot, which is a bit of a rarity,” Reach told the Evening Post.

“The day before in training we had been doing a session on finishing and I was shooting more with my right.

“To lose the Brentford game was disappointing but on a personal note, the goal was a bit of a consolation.

“My aim is to score a few more – I haven’t got that many during my career.

“They have started to come a bit more in the last few weeks and hopefully I can continue getting into the right positions.”

Reach’s first goal came in December’s 1-1 draw against Birmingham at Deepdale.

He netted on Boxing Day at Huddersfield, which proved no more than a late consolation.

Last week’s strike against Brentford pulled North End level, only for the Londoners to go on and win 3-1.

Said Reach: “There were parts of the Brentford game which we need to improve on.

“In the first half we were a little bit flat and didn’t pass the ball around like we know we can do.

“Having gone behind, we got ourselves back into the game quickly with my goal.

“To concede just before half-time wasn’t good, maybe our game management could have been better. In the second half we were much better but were having to chase the game.

“They hit us on the counter-attack for their third goal and it was difficult after that.

“We need to be more energetic than we were in the first half.

“The tempo we have to match is that which we played with against Hull during the Christmas programme.

“That was a good standard and we got our rewards by winning the game.”

Reach has recently started the second stage of his loan from Middlesbrough.

After initially joining on an emergency loan at the end of September, he has signed a standard loan agreement until the end of the season.

He still sees his long-term future on Teesside but was more than happy to extend his stay at Deepdale.

“In the weeks leading up to the end of the first loan, I did worry a bit about what might happen,” said Reach, who turns 23 next week.

“Fortunately, an agreement was reached quickly for the loan to run until the end of the season and that suited me.

“While I’m here, I hope that Middlesbrough push on and get promoted so that I can go back there with them in the Premier League.

“My focus is on Preston  until then and I see no reason why we can’t push into the top 10.”

Meanwhile, PNE’s Under-18s will play Luton in the fifth round of the FA Youth Cup on February 10 at Deepdale, kick-off 7pm.