Ryan Lowe said he's “absolutely buzzing” for striker Ched Evans after the forward netted twice in PNE’s 2-1 victory on the road against Reading.
Evans opened the scoring against the Royals early in the second half and, after Lucas Joao levelled for the hosts, the Welshman then got his second of the night in the 79th minute to seal victory.
The win made it three in a row, which moved North End up into the Play-Off places ahead of the weekend’s fixtures.
Ryan told iFollow PNE: “Massive. I think the performances in the last few games have been fantastic in different ways.
“I thought in the first half today we gave the ball away, we were a little bit sloppy and the lads knew that at half-time. I didn’t even have to say anything.
“Credit to the boys, they took it on and made sure that we moved the ball quicker and found our own man instead of turning it over.
“For Ched to get two goals is obviously pleasing. I’m absolutely buzzing for him because he hasn’t scored in a while and he’s been on fire in training of late. He was well worthy of two goals tonight.”
The first of those goals – a header on the end of a fantastic Robbie Brady cross – broke the deadlock after a relatively quiet opening 45 minutes, as the manager alluded to.
He was delighted, though, with their reaction to come out in the second period and raise their game.
Ryan added: “We said at half-time to just raise it that little ten per cent and find that extra pass.
“It was a great ball from Rob [in the] second phase and Ched’s just got a little glance.
“We felt if we could get crosses into the box today it could cause them a few issues and it’s a great little flick and Ched’s guided it right in.
“We’re disappointed obviously with the penalty and to keep going, and then the ball falls to Ched and he just fires it right through the lad’s legs. They’re match-winning moments, aren’t they?
“We felt if we had a little bit more patience in our play, we’d find that extra pass and we’d find them opportunities to score, and they did.”
Victory over Reading secured a third in succession in the Championship and moved PNE up to fifth in the league table, but that's not something the manager is reading into.
He said: "We won't get too carried away. The results tomorrow could change the position in the league, but all I’ve asked for from the group is we keep winning games of football and stay in the top half of the division until the break comes.
"Then we’ll have a good break, a good rest, and recover. We’ll have a mini pre-season with a couple of friendlies in there and then we'll bounce into the Christmas period, hopefully in and around the top half of the division, and then see where it takes us."
Watch the manager's full interview above on iFollow PNE.