Ryan Lowe feels the celebrations between fans and players after Ched Evans’ late winner against Stoke City is what Preston North End are all about.
Evans ensured PNE saw in the new year with victory in Staffordshire, as he headed home the only goal of the game in the 93rd-minute.
With the three points putting to an end the run of three successive defeats, the manager was a happy man speaking to iFollow PNE after the game.
He said: “Emotions run high, don’t they?
“As I’ve said, you can never get too high and never get too low. We’ve had a terrible two weeks along with the fans.
“It’s something we need to keep building and keep working on, at being good, solid and resolute, which we have been.
“When you see that bundle into the net, going over the ‘keeper in the 93rd minute with two minutes to go, it’s massively pleasing.
“You’ve seen the celebrations on the bench, with the players, Ched with his top off going to the fans – it’s fantastic.
“That’s what we’re about. We know we’re going to have some bumps in the road, of course we are, that’s where we are.
“If we can play the expectations down a little bit and just keep fighting, keep trying to get as many points as we can and see where it takes us, that’s going to be more pleasing for me.
“I think what we’ve seen today is a very good team competing at a tough place to come.”
The match itself started later than expected, with traffic congestion on the roads heading towards the stadium leaving supporters of both sides struggling to make kick-off.
A decision was therefore made to delay kick-off until 3.15pm, and the manager had a part to play in that being made.
Ryan said: “The safety officer came to me before the game and said that we might have to delay the kick-off.
“I said ‘no you will have to delay the kick-off,’ because there was friends, family and all the PNE fans who were traveling down, hence why they delayed it, so fair play to them. It was the right thing to do.
“Now we’ve sent them home happy, and hopefully there’s no traffic jams going back tonight!
“Honestly, from the bottom of my heart, just be patient with the group. Sometimes it’s frustrating and one or two get a little bit anxious, but we’ve got to make sure that we stick with the group.
“If they stick with the group and get behind them, that’s what they’ll give you: blood, sweat and tears.
“Ched’s got blood all over him. The lads have got kicked ankles, rolled ankles, cramp, and you can see the effort and determination.”
It looked for anything like the game would end as a stalemate, with both sides struggling to create in the second half, until the latter stages.
B
en Woodburn saw a good, dipping volley tipped over after Liam Delap had spurned an opportunity at the other end, but Evans popped up late at the near post to flick Alan Browne’s corner home, courtesy of the post.
“We said at half-time that it nearly worked in the first half,” added Ryan.
“He was getting in there and it’s a well-worked corner from Browney and him, and we were getting a little bit of movement in there, so fair play.
“Then when you see it goes in it’s a real buzz because it sends everyone home happy and it’s a well-worked set play and he’s been unbelievable, so long may that continue.”