WE WANT GREAT ROAR US ON TO Last day pain is inspiring Beckford
MATCH-WINNER Jermaine Beckford admitted the pain of missing out on automatic promotion got Preston over the line in their play-off semi-final first leg – and is desperate to finish off the job today.
A crowd of 17,621 fans took in Preston’s final home game of the regular season against Swindon and a similar attendance is anticipated against Chesterfield at Deepdale.
And though many supporters may still be rueing a final-day defeat to lowly Colchester that cost them second place in League One, Beckford hopes his goal at the Proact Stadium on Thursday night went someway to healing those wounds.
“After the weekend we all felt we had not done ourselves justice and there was a feeling after the game that was really painful,” said the 31-year-old.
“I’m sure that no-one in the dressing room wanted to feel that again and we used that as added motivation to push ourselves over the line on Thursday.
“It’s only half-time in the grand scheme of things, but we’re really happy with how the first game went.
“We’re going back home and we’ve got a lot of fans there.
“I’m hoping they will be able to show exactly what we expect of them and hopefully we can do them proud and finish things off to get to Wembley.
“Playing in front of a big crowd is something I look forward to, it’s brilliant, especially when they are on your side, and I can’t wait.
“The fans have been there right throughout the season – they’ve been fantastic. After the weekend’s result, we wanted to repay some of the faith shown to us.
“I’m really pleased with the the result we got. I’m hoping we will be able to replicate that again – and you never know what happens after that.”
Beckford has experienced promotions with former clubs Leeds and Scunthorpe, but Preston’s play-off record is simply appalling.
In nine attempts they have failed to win promotion, registering just four wins in 22 games.
They will also have be wary of succumbing to a Chesterfield comeback, having done just that in September.
On that autumnal Tuesday night, Preston were three goals to the good inside half an hour. But Eoin Doyle bagged a hattrick – including a 90th-minute penalty – to claim an unlikely point.
Doyle has since departed for Cardiff, and Beckford is confident Preston have the strength to avoid defeat to the Spireites for the first time since 1997 and get to Wembley.
“We have got one of the best defensive records in the league for a reason and we’re pretty lethal on the counter attack as well,” he added.
“We’ve got the best striker in the league in Joe Garner, our midfield are solid, our backline are brilliant and our goalkeeper is fantastic.
“The quality filters through to all the players on the bench and in the squad that haven’t travelled. That’s testament to how good we’ve got it at Preston.
“Chesterfield put us under a lot of pressure on Thursday, particularly in the second half. It’s something we knew we would encounter. We’ve spoken about their strengths and weaknesses.
“We are going to soak up a lot of pressure. We are really good like that.”
Manager Simon Grayson picked the same starting XI that had lost at Colchester – after careful thought.
And the former Leeds boss was delighted his call to give his players a chance to put matters right was vindicated.
“There was a bit of criticism flying around at the weekend,” Grayson said.
“Since Sunday afternoon I’ve thought about things, tinkered with the selection and the shape of the team.
“Even up to Thursday you’re still deliberating about what you’re going to do, but ultimately we’re pleased how well the team have been doing and I wasn’t going to get carried away by a 1-0 defeat.
“The players deserved another opportunity. When we’ve had a setback this season we’ve always responded in the right manner and we’ve done that again.”