Preston midfielder Alan Browne enjoying best season in front of goal

ALSO READ: Alan Browne thinks his winner at QPR is Preston’s most important goal of the season

The 23-year-old claimed North End’s winner against Queens Park Rangers at the weekend.

If credited with it, Browne can claim eight goals for the campaign.

Bearing in mind he did not score at all last season, his tally represents a big step forward.

Previous to this season, Browne had scored seven goals in his four years with the Lilywhites.

A more advanced midfield role has provided Browne with the chance to get into the box a lot more.

However, at QPR he played deeper and his header came from a free-kick.

Browne said: “The gaffer has been on about getting more goals since the start of the season.

“I hadn’t played this far up the pitch in previous years and the gaffer said that if I wanted to play there I had to add more goals to my game.

“It is something I’ve been working endlessly on to try and do that.

“I don’t think that is a bad return for my first season in that position.

“Hopefully I can add a few more between now and the end of the season and see where that takes us.”

Saturday’s 2-1 win at Loftus Road moved PNE up to eighth place with three games to play.

They are only three points shy of Middlesbrough and Millwall, who are in fifth and sixth position respectively.

This weekend, North End host Norwich at Deepdale.

Beating QPR and Leeds in the past week has turned their fortunes around after three defeats on the bounce.

Browne, who turned 23 on Sunday, said: “It just shows what kind of league this is. A lot of people would have 
written us off because of our three losses on the bounce.

“We’ve just got to win our remaining games, focus on ourselves and if other teams do slip we can get in and push on for that play-off place.

“The three losses knocked us back a bit but we never stopped believing – you can see that from the two wins we’ve had.

“Even the ones we lost, the performances were there, we just couldn’t get the results.

“It’s incredible, if you think back to the Derby game, they beat us and went five points clear.

“After losing three games on the bounce we’re suddenly back in the race and it’s up to us to give ourselves a chance if teams slip up.

“At QPR we had to grind things out but results are more important than performances at this stage of the season.

“We’ve got a clear midweek now and hopefully that will freshen up the legs ready to go again.”