Gallagher brace has Grayson dreaming of glamour tie
SIMON GRAYSON said he did not want to have any regrets after his Preston side earned a place in the FA Cup fourth round with victory over Championship side Norwich.
Paul Gallagher struck twice in the final 19 minutes as the two-time winners — who face Walsall in the home leg of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy northern final on Wednesday — continued their fine cup form this season.
And Grayson says he can breathe easy after securing a place in the fourth-round draw.
‘You just want to be in the draw,’ said the Preston manager. ‘The worst situation is when you get knocked out and the team who knocked you out get a real big draw.
‘We’re in there and see where it takes us. We might be home, we might be away, we might get a big team, we might get a small team. We can enjoy the draw and look forward to the JPT on Wednesday.
‘Deep down my priority is the league and the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy as we’re two games away, but we always pick a team to go out there and win the game. People who came into the team have been outstanding.’
Disappointed Norwich manager Neil Adams admitted his team offered nothing in front of goal. ‘We just didn’t look creative,’ he said. ‘I don’t know if we had a shot on target, which is a big concern for me. The game was a nothing game.’
Gary Hooper squandered a great chance to put Norwich ahead in the 32nd minute and Bradley Johnson was denied a one-on-one with keeper Thorsten Stuckmann by a superb saving tackle from Bailey Wright on the hour-mark.
Preston almost went in front after 62 minutes but David Buchanan’s cross was headed over by Andy Little from 12 yards.
However it mattered little as Gallagher slotted the ball under Canaries goalkeeper John Ruddy from 12 yards on 71 minutes after a Jack King knockdown.
And North End sealed the win on 84 minutes as Kyel Reid slipped in Gallagher who calmly finished past Ruddy from 10 yards.