5-star Preston ‘could have hit 10’
PRESTON boss Alex Neil watched his side batter Barnsley – and declared they could have scored 10 with better finishing.
Daniel Johnson was the outstanding performer, scoring twice and notching two assists as the hosts shrugged off a first-half equaliser from Cameron McGeehan with a stunning second-half display.
“That has been coming. In a lot of the home games we have performed very well,” Neil said. “We were the better side from the first minute to the last minute. The only disappointment I have got is that after we scored the first goal we got a little bit sloppy.
“Their quality and composure was excellent. We didn’t try to force things, we kept on playing, kept on probing.
“If our fans didn’t enjoy that, you would never enjoy a game of football.
“It was excellent to watch entertaining, we could arguably have scored 10 goals – we missed four sitters in the first half and there was David Nugent’s chance in the second half as well.”
After eight minutes, Johnson dribbled his way into the box before shooting fiercely at Brad Collins, who could only parry to Sean Maguire, but he fluffed the rebound. Ten minutes later Maguire wasted an even better chance when Johnson’s cross found him in space 12 yards out.
A Joe Rafferty centre was headed over by Nugent and there was an inevitability about North End’s opener, which came when Nugent’s pass found Tom Barkhuizen, whose shot was blocked by Collins with Johnson following up to loop in a header.
Preston should have doubled their lead when Johnson’s cross was met by Maguire, who side-footed at the keeper.
Improbably, Barnsley went into the break level after a deep corner found Conor Chaplin lurking at the back post with McGeehan profiting from the knock down.
This was Johnson’s day, however, and five minutes into the half he broke down the left before squaring to Barkhuizen, who took a touch before slotting past Collins. With an hour gone it was Johnson again who ran on to a ball over the top from Paul Gallagher before the cutest of finishes.
Three minutes later, Barkhuizen stretched his legs down the left and rolled a ball across the area which was met by Ben Pearson at the back stick.
A miserable afternoon for Barnsley was sealed when Johnson’s harrying saw the ball break to Josh Harrop, who lifted the ball over Collins and chased it over the line.
Angry Barnsley manager Daniel Stendel said: “In the small things and the big situations, we played like a youth team. Bad touches, fouls and mistakes.
“At half-time I thought it wasn’t our best half, but we were 1-1 with one chance for us and that was a good result, so maybe we could keep going for a bit longer, but the second half was the worst I can remember since coming to Barnsley.
“At the moment we are playing like a team that is not good enough to play in the Championship.”