Ali McCann described Preston North End’s 2-1 victory over Plymouth Argyle as a “proper team performance” as PNE extended their winning streak to five matches.
It was inside the opening minute that Duane Holmes got the Lilywhites going with a close-range header before Liam Millar marked his first appearance for the club with a superb solo effort later in the half.
Argyle enjoyed a good spell early in the second period and pulled one back through Ryan Hardie, but North End stayed strong to secure a fifth successive victory.
Ali said: “It’s brilliant to get another win on the board. The lads dug in massively and it was a proper team performance.
“We got the goals early and in the second half everyone dug in so much, which is testament to the group.
“We made it difficult for ourselves conceding the goal midway through the second half but I think with the group we’ve got, we’ve always got a chance to hold out.
“The lads who came on were brilliant and defensively we were top class.”
The Northern Ireland international praised his team’s electric start to the game and the way in which they defended the lead right up until the final whistle.
He said: “It was just the start we wanted and we managed to kick on and get another goal, which put us in a great position and we managed to see the game out.
“You’re always going to get that reaction from Plymouth after half-time because they’re a good side and they played some nice stuff.
“You’re never going to get it easy, no matter how far ahead you are in the game. The whole team stayed so resolute and it’s testament to the group we’ve got.
“Whatever way you win the game is always satisfying. We’ve had games where we’ve probably played better but today was all about digging in, which makes it that little bit sweeter when you hear the final whistle.”
It’s been an excellent start to the campaign for North End which has seen them reach the top of the Sky Bet Championship table.
Whilst North End's No.13 insists there is a buzz and bounce around the dressing room, he and the squad are keen to avoid any complacency and maintain full focus at this early stage of the season.
“We probably couldn’t have asked for a better start,” he said. “Even the game we drew [against Bristol City] we were unlucky to be honest.
“It’s a great run, but we can’t rest on our laurels at the minute. We’ve got another home game on Tuesday night and that’s a great chance to make it another win on the bounce.
“The mood in the dressing room is unreal. There’s nothing better than winning games. Everyone bounces into training and there’s a good atmosphere around the place. It’s a joy to be a part of at the minute.
“It’s massive for us hearing them backing us, too. When we start like that from the first minute, the place was bouncing. So the more that happens, the better.”