Manager Graham Westley praised his side for executing the plan in their 4-1 win at his former club Stevenage.
“Jeffrey is very sore, we will have to see how he settles down, it is not as bad as we first thought. He was limping in the showers but he was on his feet.”“I don’t feel malice towards Stevenage, everybody worked hard together and we achieved a lot. I don’t feel particularly buoyant winning here and I wish everyone the very best. I appreciate what they have done for me and hope they appreciate what I have done for them.
“They have done terrific and there start to the season has been first class, they are in amongst it and I am sure they will bounce back from today,” said the gaffer.
Westley, who won back-to-back promotions with his former club Stevenage only two years ago, concluded his interview by speaking highly of the Hertfordshire club, and also gave a positive update on wide man Monakana who was stretched off midway through the second half with a leg injury.
“Jon Ashton is a massive player and he has gone out of their side and they have conceded four against Swindon Town and three against Rotherham. Ashton is a big player and any side would notice his absence so we knew their back line was there to be attacked and we worked very hard to make sure we exploited their weaknesses.”
“It is probably one of the first times this year were we have had the next goal mentality, we kept fighting for the next goal, the next pass and the next moment. We created a lot over the 90 minutes.
“We have talked a lot about scoring the next goal and having the next goal mentality, not playing with fear and lose an advantage.
“A lot of things haven’t gone our way but we haven’t felt sorry for ourselves and we have had to work hard at our game knowing if you keep working hard and improving the points tally will start to clock up.
“We wanted to dominate the game, we wanted to play the better football and control possession. We did all of those, physically we are starting to look a strong outfit, the commitment the players are playing with and the determination to win points.
“The clinicality on the end of our play was everything we wanted it to be and it can be seen that we are heading in the right direction and improving as a team.
“We looked strong over the 90 minutes, physically we were on top of the game and some of the football we played was first class.
“We got ourselves ready to come and win the three points and the players executed the plan very well.
Praising his group for their determination to win every game they play, Westley said: “It was never going to be an easy game, they are flying high and it was going to be a tough place to visit.
Stevenage, who started the day in third place, had lost only one game at home so far this season in League One prior to kick-off, but were unable to cope with North End’s fast paced style of play as Stuart Beavon, Jack King, Jeffrey Monakana and Nicky Wroe all got on the score sheet.
The Lilywhites claimed their first ever win at the Lamex Stadium with a sterling performance and were on the front foot from start to finish.