GRAYSON EYES LEADING PACK
PRESTON boss Simon Grayson has an eye on the automatic promotion pack after Joe Garner’s double saw off struggling Tranmere.
The former Watford striker’s header opened the scoring on 18 minutes before Ash Taylor equalised for Rovers just before half-time.
But Garner, North End’s leading scorer this season, took his tally to 16 in all competitions with a 52ndminute effort to move them within six points of second-placed Wolves – with third-placed Leyton Orient next up for Grayson’s troops.
“We’ve just got to try and win as many games as possible, and if those above us slip up then we want to be there to try and take advantage of that, we’ll just keep approaching each game in a positive manner,” said Grayson.
“The second goal was vital, you’ve got to expect the home team to have some sort of spell and until 35 minutes I thought we were outstanding, we created numerous chances and you always know that you need to finish those chances.
“We’ve got a big game next week against Leyton Orient and hopefully we can go and win that one.
“The second goal was vital, you’ve got to expect the home team to have some sort of spell and until 35 minutes I thought we were outstanding.
“We created numerous chances and you always know that you need to finish those chances.
“I thought we responded well after the Tranmere equaliser and then saw the game out in a professional manner.
“There was great support from the travelling fans again, the fans have travelled in their numbers all season and they’ve been fantastic and sometimes it can feel like a home game for the team because of the numbers they travel in.”
Preston drew first blood when Garner headed a Craig Davies cross back across goal but struggling Tranmere levelled in the last minute of the first half when Taylor smashed in.
But seven minutes after half-time it was Preston who were celebrating when Garner slotted past Owain fon Williams.
Rovers boss Ronnie Moore said:“If you look at the possession both sides have had and the goals that they’ve scored, it was selfdestruct for the goals from our point of view.
“It was one long cross into the box, the defenders are waiting for the keeper to come – just head it clear and then moan about it.
“The second goal the lad had all day to stick it in where he wanted, but we huffed and puffed and I can’t fault the effort and commitment.
“We started off 4-4-2, that wasn’t working so we had to change it after 20 minutes, we brought (Jason) Koumas on, then we managed to get on the ball and play, because if we hadn’t have done that then they would have had the ball all day.
“Sometimes you have to make those big decisions early on and if we hadn’t we would have
been in big trouble.”