There won't be many leaving Deepdale as happy as Stevie May this evening after marking his first start this season with his first goal for the club.
It's been an incredible long journey for the Scotsman - having suffered a knee ligament injury in November 2015, the forward did not play again for another 14 months before making his return coming off the bench in the 4-2 victory over Brentford.
A further sub role followed, before May was told, 18 months since his last start he'd be leading the line alongside Jordan Hugill for today's game, and what better way to mark your first start than a goal.
"It was nice to get a start finally but days like today make the long road worth it so yes I'm happy," said May who spoke to the club's media channel after the game. "It would have been nicer to have won the game but I'm delighted personally."
"When you've gone through tough times and when you've been told that you might not play again it makes it all worth it in the end. I've worked hard and the staff here have been great, working away and it's nice to come back here and show the fans the hard work that's gone into it."
May would have been delighted with any type of goal this afternoon, but his strike this afternoon was a superb curling shot into the top corner, his first in a North End shirt since signing on deadline day in the summer of 2015.
On his goal, he continued: "That was a nice little bonus - they all count of course but when it means that bit more and to score like that makes it a bit more special.
"The goal was nice but it would have been nicer to win the game. In the first half hour, our touches were limited and we never started great and we needed to change something.
"We never really got to the heights we have done earlier on in the season today; like I say it's another point on the board but it would have been nicer to have got the three.
"It's good to get a bit of confidence and it's a nice boost for me going into the summer, I'll look forward to the next game but then I'll be working hard over the summer to come back even stronger."
A further sub role followed, before May was told, 18 months since his last start he'd be leading the line alongside Jordan Hugill for today's game, and what better way to mark your first start than a goal.
"It was nice to get a start finally but days like today make the long road worth it so yes I'm happy," said May who spoke to the club's media channel after the game. "It would have been nicer to have won the game but I'm delighted personally."
"When you've gone through tough times and when you've been told that you might not play again it makes it all worth it in the end. I've worked hard and the staff here have been great, working away and it's nice to come back here and show the fans the hard work that's gone into it."
May would have been delighted with any type of goal this afternoon, but his strike this afternoon was a superb curling shot into the top corner, his first in a North End shirt since signing on deadline day in the summer of 2015.
On his goal, he continued: "That was a nice little bonus - they all count of course but when it means that bit more and to score like that makes it a bit more special.
"The goal was nice but it would have been nicer to win the game. In the first half hour, our touches were limited and we never started great and we needed to change something.
"We never really got to the heights we have done earlier on in the season today; like I say it's another point on the board but it would have been nicer to have got the three.
"It's good to get a bit of confidence and it's a nice boost for me going into the summer, I'll look forward to the next game but then I'll be working hard over the summer to come back even stronger."