North End’s captain in recent weeks, Paul Gallagher, is enjoying skippering the side at present and is also pleased that he was right in his assumptions that the form would change.
The experienced No.12 explained, when he spoke to iFollow PNE to look ahead to the Lilywhites’ clash with table-toppers Norwich City at Deepdale on Wednesday night, that he had asked for patience from the fans after the New Year’s Day defeat to Rotherham United.
“Things are going well at the moment,” said Paul. “I remember going over the fans at Rotherham and saying ‘tick with us, we will come good’ and that has proved to be the case.
“The fans have stuck with us from day one, but I could see in their faces at Rotherham that they were disappointed, because the results weren’t going for us, but the performances were good, but it is about having that two-way relationship.
“We are playing well and the fans are enjoying it and they are getting behind us and we are on a nice little run and we want that to continue.”
Gally has been one of many influential figures for Alex Neil’s side over recent weeks and he admits he has been pleased to play his part, from all across the midfield.
“When you get older, you really appreciate and enjoy football and when you have a manager like we have, who goes into fine detail to find out how to benefit myself and the team, it is really enjoyable,” he continued.
“At QPR I went off the right, then at Stoke I went into the middle and then at Bolton I went off the left; I also did it against Aston Villa and Rotherham and it seems to be working at the minute.
“The one thing you find when you play up against right backs, is that they can’t find me, because I am drifting round and the manager has given me that licence to express myself.
“I know have that responsibility to help out defensively, but as a team we are dominating possession, creating a lot of chances and I am really enjoying myself.”
Wednesday’s clash with the automatic-promotion chasing Canaries will be a tough one for PNE, however, the 34-year-old believes that the form being shown by the squad, means they should have no fears, whoever they come up against.
“I watched the game on Sunday [Norwich versus Ipswich]. They look strong at the minute and full of confidence, but so are we. The last few games people have really struggled to cope with us, both on and off the ball. We have played really well as a unit.
“As a player, these are the games you really want to play in – against the teams at the top of the league – you want them to come to Deepdale and for us to put in a really good shift.
“I believe that the form we are in at the minute, that we can be a match for anyone.
“Their game on Sunday was a good example of the Championship – every game is tight, but when you are at the top you tend to get that bit of luck, whereas if you are down there fighting for your life, everything seems to go against you.
“It is all fine margins and if Alan Judge had scored just before Norwich got their second, it could have been a different game. But the way Norwich are playing at the minute, the opportunities that they get, they seem to be scoring.
“That is our only disappointment from Saturday’s game, at Bolton, that we didn’t score more goals. We were really dominant, we pinned Bolton back and we looked like the home team, with the amount of support we had and the way we played,” he added.