Jordan Storey felt Preston North End deserved their last-gasp win against Middlesbrough, which was clinched thanks to the defender’s stoppage-time header at Deepdale.
Chuba Akpom’s goal put the visitors into the lead after just eight minutes, but North End had drawn level by the break through an emphatic Emil Riis strike into the roof of the net, and just as the game looked set for a draw, Storey popped up in the 91st-minute with the winner.
Speaking to iFollow PNE after the game, the No.14 said: “I think we deserved the win in my opinion.
“I thought we had some great play, we adapted really well to the change formation of and I think we looked a lot more threatening. To top it off with a last-minute winner was great.
“For how we were in the game, for how we were dominating it for large spells, I think there was a feeling that it might not have been our day. To grab that last minute-winner was fairly deserved, throughout the team.
“I think we were the better team, I think we dealt with their pressure really well and I felt really solid, I felt like we weren’t going to concede. It was a bit of shame to concede at a set piece but I think we bounced back and responded really well from it.
“We should probably do a lot better with it [Middlesbrough’s goal]. We’ll analyse the game, we’ll look at what we can improve and see what we did well and go from there.”
Riis’ thunderbolt got the Lilywhites back into the game in the first half and Storey’s header ensured the late drama was of a positive nature for the home side – both moments being ones that pleased Jordan.
“That one’s a great strike,” he said of team-mate Riis’ equaliser. “He was saying actually how many goals he had scored in this fixture. I’m sure he was revving to go, what a strike to get us level.
“It’s always nice to chip in for a goal. Today’s my best at the club. Who knows, maybe I could have a third or a fourth by the end of the season.”
Storey felt he and his team-mates adjusted well to a change in formation, with PNE setting up in a 4-3-3 shape.
“All the boys knew their jobs, I think we’re all more than capable and we’ve all played in that formation before. We killed them with switching to that and I think that’s what we’ve shown today.
“I think you could see from a lot of our play of how well we coped with them and how well we moved the ball. We looked like we’d been playing that formation for quite a long time, it’s credit to the boys and credit to the staff.”
Next up is the visit of Swansea City on Tuesday night as North End look to build on today’s positive result with another game on home soil.
“We knew how big a game this was and how tight the table is, so to get the three points today and to hopefully move up the table is massive for the club.
“We’d all agree our home form has not been the best this season. To get a result like that with another fixture coming up on the Tuesday night, hopefully we can get another three points.”
Watch more from Jordan on iFollow PNE.