Assistant manager Glynn Snodin spoke with delight after North End’s resounding first round win over Barnet in the FA Cup with Budweiser
The PNE No.2 met the press after the 6-0 triumph and was full of praise for the way the side had tackled what could have been a tricky encounter.
“It was a great result and a great performance and we’re in the second round of the FA Cup, which is all we asked for,” said the Yorkshireman.
“It could have been a tricky tie and we have said to the lads all week that we didn’t want to be that side in the Sunday papers as the upset.
“We worked hard, gave them the respect that they deserved and made sure that we were right.”
The game changed in the 13th minute when Keanu Marsh-Brown was sent off for the visitors and Glynn felt it was harsh on the young attacker: “I didn’t think it was a red card from where I was, I thought it would be a yellow, but I sit on the opposite side of the ground.
“It is one of those tackles that you see quite often and different officials see them differently and he was unlucky on the day that it was red.
“Once he gave that one I think the referee had to give the second [Stuart Beavon] as well. In any other game that could have been a yellow, but once he’s made the first decision then I think he has no choice but to give the second.”
Despite the red cards the game will be remembered for Paul Gallagher’s hat-trick and both he and striker Joe Garner earned plenty of praise.
“That what’s Gally is all about,” he continued. “He has come from a higher level and he is different class on the ball and hopefully he can do that for us for the rest of the season.
“You have to catch up with match fitness. You can train as much as you want, but matches are different and hopefully that 90 minutes has helped him. Scoring goals gives you a great lift and hopefully he can kick on now from here.
“You want good strikers at your club. You need four or five if you are going to get promotion. It is nice keeping clean sheets, but you have to score goals and if you strikers are on fire, you have half a chance of getting there and Joe looked really sharp today.
“He gets in some really good positions and his movement is very hard to handle and that should be good for his confidence as well.”
Simon Grayson went without Bailey Wright and Chris Humphrey, two usual mainstays of the side and the gaffer’s assistant explained that there was nothing sinister in their absence.
“Sometimes they need a rest and today was the opportunity to give Bails and Chris Humphrey that today.
They got a breather and the same with Kevin Davies and hopefully that will see them right for next week now.”