Manager Simon Grayson was delighted to mastermind Preston North End’s first win at Prenton Park in 28 years.
Joe Garner scored once in each half to seal a 2-1 victory over Ronnie Moore’s Tranmere Rovers and secure Preston’s tenth away triumph of the season.
The Lilywhites’ last win on the Wirral was by a 3-2 score line during the 1985/86 season.
“We came here in a confident manner, those sort of records are there to be broken and I thought the display today and the performance merited a victory for us,” Grayson told the press.
“The only thing missing was probably a couple more goals before half time because we were certainly the dominant team for the first 35 minutes and gave them a bit of encouragement just before half time.
“But we got back on it again and I thought we played very well today, with the ball, without it, we worked hard and caused a lot of problems.”
Defender Ash Taylor equalised for Tranmere on the stroke of half time to make the score line 1-1 at the break.
But Preston responded well to being pegged back and were the better team in the second 45 minutes, which pleased Grayson greatly.
“You know that you need to get that second goal, it’s important because you know the opposition, especially at home, are going to have some sort of spell in the game where they are going to dominate,” said the North End boss.
“But we started extremely well, we played a system which we’ve not played too often today, like a diamond shape, but it worked ever so well.
“We were disappointed at half time but had to get back on it and we did and we should have finished it off, a bit more ruthlessness, I thought the ‘keeper made some real good saves for them and I’m delighted with another win.”
Preston’s manager made five changes to the side which outplayed Nottingham Forest at Deepdale on Wednesday night and credited his squad for their ability to adapt.
“Look, we’ve got threats, we’ve got options right the way through the squad,” Grayson said.
“I know I sort of say this on a regular basis but I made five changes today from the game against Forest the other night, and that wasn’t because anybody played poorly, it was just about freshening it up and playing a different style.
“And full credit to the squad, we’ve got it going, the front two can be a handful and when you look on the bench what we’ve still got to come as well, it’s obviously keeping everybody on their toes.”
Elsewhere in Sky Bet League One, Leyton Orient were beaten 2-1 at home by Peterborough United, meaning North End climbed to within five points of Russell Slade’s side.
North End welcome the O’s to Deepdale next weekend and Grayson admits he is looking forward to the top-of-the-table clash.
“We’ve always said that all we need to do is concentrate on what we need to do and we can’t affect what happens with other teams if they drop points, which I said teams will do over the next few weeks, and we will,” he said
“We’re not going to win every game, it would be nice if we could do, we’ve just said that we need to keep grinding results out, win as many games as possible and if people want to slip up, we want to be there to take advantage.
“So results have gone for us today, we’ve had a tough week with a good win last week and a heavy game on Wednesday night, the players have kept together as a real strong group.
“So we will look forward to a top-of-the-table clash with Orient next week now.”