Simon Grayson admitted his players stepped up to the game at pivotal moments as the Lilywhites booked their place at Wembley.
A brace from Jermaine Beckford – one of which scored from the half-way line alongside a penalty conversion from Joe Garner saw North End win the game 3-0, and 4-0 on aggregate.
But a defining point arguably came from the other end of the field – after Sam Johnstone denied Sam Clucas one-on-one, just two minutes later, Beckford grabbed North End’s first of the game and his second of the two-legged affair.
It’s a contrast to this time last weekend at Colchester and the North End boss told PNE Player, the emotions of that day was used as a motivation tool, with a tie in the capital against either Sheffield United or Swindon Town to build up to in two weeks-time.
“It’s a different feeling from this time last week when we’ve obviously experienced the other end of the spectrum – we said it to the players to use it as a motivation and let’s make sure we turn up and have a right good go at it
“In big moments in the game we relied on certain people to make things happen and then as the game went on we got some goals.
“That’s the moment [on Sam Johnstone’s save] when you rely on players whether it’s goalkeepers, defender and strikers to do what they’ve got to do what they’ve been asked to do and Sam has made some fantastic saves all season for us.
“It was a vital point in the game because after that the ball goes into Jermaine [Beckford] - he turns and finishes and obviously it gives you that luxury of being 2-0 up but full credit to the players because they’ve worked extremely hard, they were disciplined and it's been rounded off with an absolute worldie from Jermaine.”
To hear more reaction from the PNE boss as Grayson goes on to applaud Beckford’s finish a year to the day since Garner’s strike against Rotherham and more click here.
But a defining point arguably came from the other end of the field – after Sam Johnstone denied Sam Clucas one-on-one, just two minutes later, Beckford grabbed North End’s first of the game and his second of the two-legged affair.
It’s a contrast to this time last weekend at Colchester and the North End boss told PNE Player, the emotions of that day was used as a motivation tool, with a tie in the capital against either Sheffield United or Swindon Town to build up to in two weeks-time.
“It’s a different feeling from this time last week when we’ve obviously experienced the other end of the spectrum – we said it to the players to use it as a motivation and let’s make sure we turn up and have a right good go at it
“In big moments in the game we relied on certain people to make things happen and then as the game went on we got some goals.
“That’s the moment [on Sam Johnstone’s save] when you rely on players whether it’s goalkeepers, defender and strikers to do what they’ve got to do what they’ve been asked to do and Sam has made some fantastic saves all season for us.
“It was a vital point in the game because after that the ball goes into Jermaine [Beckford] - he turns and finishes and obviously it gives you that luxury of being 2-0 up but full credit to the players because they’ve worked extremely hard, they were disciplined and it's been rounded off with an absolute worldie from Jermaine.”
To hear more reaction from the PNE boss as Grayson goes on to applaud Beckford’s finish a year to the day since Garner’s strike against Rotherham and more click here.