NOW EAGER BEN SETS HIS SIGHTS ON MORE GOALS
PRESTON holding midfielder Ben Pearson is determined to add more goals to his game this season.
The 24-year-old netted for the first time in three years as the Lilywhites hammered Barnsley 5-1 at Deepdale prior to the international break and he is keen for more.
His only previous goal in a first-team game for North End came in October 2016 against Aston Villa.
“It was nice to get the win and then when you go three or four goals ahead, you start to let the shackles off and get in the box and try to get yourself a goal,” said Pearson.
“I saw Barky (Tom Barkhuizen) running down the left and I saw an option to sprint in, no-one else was going in with it, so I thought I’d try my luck and, luckily, Barky has found me and I thankfully scored.
“That was probably me done for the game after that (run) – I probably ran 60 or 70 yards just to try to get a goal and it paid off.
“Then it was just sitting in so we didn’t have to do that much running in the last 20 minutes.
“It was just keep the scoreline the same, not concede and just see the game out.
“I’m not sure when my next goal will come, but I’ve got that hunger to try to get a few more goals this year rather than just sitting in.
“My ambition is just to get a few more than I usually do and then just keep it tight at the back like we have been doing.”
Elsewhere, defender Ben Davies made his 100th North End appearance against Barnsley.
The 26-year-old said: “It is a good feeling. I didn’t realise until I saw it on social media that it was my 100th game for Preston.
“It is a big achievement and I am happy and proud to get to that milestone and I have got everyone at the club and my family to thank for that.”
STOKE City manager Nathan Jones hopes victory over Swansea last week can be the spark that turns their season around.
The 2-1 win at the Liberty Stadium was their first win of the campaign and, although they remain rooted to the foot of the table during the current international break, Jones is optimistic it can kickstart their campaign.
“This can lift a cloud and we can start reaching for the next rung on the ladder. Not the stars, but the next rung on the ladder,” said the 46-year-old. “Then we can claw our way out of where we are and start to build. I love this club, I love being here, I love the work I do. It’s tough at times because we keep getting hurt but, hopefully, now this is something different.
“Unless you have just been looking from the outside, we have been a better side than where we are in the league. It finally came together and I’m just so proud of them. That, for the first time in a long time, looked like a team I work on and envisaged when coming here.”
Jones’ thoughts were echoed by midfielder Sam Clucas, who said: “It’s been frustrating for the fans because they’ve got to pay a lot of money to come and watch us, but please stick with us because, hopefully, that first win can be the catalyst to drive us forward.”