PNE have been named as the Championship 'performers of the week' once again!
Less than a month after picking up the League Managers Association's 'Performance of the Week' award for the stunning 2-1 victory over West Bromwich Albion at Deepdale, the accolade has once again been handed to North End following Tuesday night's excellent display in the 2-0 victory over table-toppers Stoke City.
The award panel, comprising chairman Howard Wilkinson, Sir Alex Ferguson, Joe Royle, Dave Bassett and Barry Fry were all in agreement that Alan Irvine's side were worthy winners, and the Preston boss will receive a specially engraved crystal football in a presentation to be screened on Sky Soccer Saturday on 1st March 2008.
Richard Chaplow was Preston's goalscoring hero on the night, scoring twice to stun Championship leaders Stoke and take the Lilywhites out of the bottom three.
Chaplow, who came off injured after the interval, opened the scoring midway in the first half when he prodded in a knock-down from Youl Mawene.
The midfielder doubled the lead on 33 minutes with a 20-yard shot after connecting with Paul McKenna's pass from a free-kick.
Ricardo Fuller, Ryan Shawcross and Liam Lawrence all went close for Stoke who had Leon Cort carried off, but Andy Lonergan was in fine form to repell the danger repeatedly, with the bandaged figure of Callum Davidson also producing some committed defending despite requiring four stitches at half-time following a head wound.
Manager Irvine was quick to pay tribute to his team, claiming:
"It was a massive win against a really good team. We knew it would be really difficult before the game and we knew it would be difficult at half-time and obviously we've come through it.
"Perhaps the players were a little bit keyed up for the game as we were playing one of the division's top teams, and clearly we've got to make sure we take that into the games against all the other teams."
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