Joe Garner admits his confidence is sky high after netting a brace in Preston North End’s 2-1 win over Tranmere Rovers.
Garner bagged his first goal of the afternoon at Prenton Park in the 18th minute with a header at the back post from strike partner Craig Davies’ deep cross.
The 25-year-old completed his brace midway through the second half, finishing neatly past Wales international ‘keeper Owain Fon Williams in front of the travelling North End fans.
“I’m confident at the minute, I’m confident in my own ability and it helps when you have got top players behind you sliding you in,” Garner told PNE.Com in an exclusive interview.
“Just happy to pick the three points up again and move onto Saturday.”
He added: “I thought we played well, I thought the first half on the whole we were the better team.”
“Obviously we got the goal early on, fair play to them they nicked one back and we had to work second half to nick the win.”
Garner came close to completing a hat-trick on several occasions and admits he was slightly disheartened not to have bagged a treble.
“I’m slightly disappointed I didn’t get the hat-trick, I think my legs went a little bit as I tried to get up there and help Kev,” he said.
“But yeah I probably should have had a couple more.”
Tranmere defender Ash Taylor equalised for the hosts just before half time. But Garner says manager Simon Grayson simply told his players to continue as they were at the break, such was Preston’s dominance.
“To be fair I thought the first half an hour we were the better side, probably could have nicked another goal but we didn’t,” the striker said.
“They came back into it, the gaffer just told us to keep on playing the way we were and take our chances.”
North End’s next match is against Russell Slade’s Leyton Orient, who lost 2-1 to Peterborough United at Matchroom Stadium earlier today.
And Garner insists the Lilywhites will be well prepared for the clash at Deepdale, especially with their excellent home support behind them.
“We’ll be ready for that game, we’re confident, especially at home with the home fans behind us we’ll be ready and waiting for them,” he concluded.