After what he felt was a “below-par” performance last weekend, Will Keane wants Preston North End to put that right at Plymouth Argyle and end this batch of fixtures on a high.
PNE’s seven-match unbeaten run came to an end at home against Stoke City last Saturday, and they’ll be looking to get back on track with a long trip to Home Park in the final fixture before the international break.
North End sit five points off the top six ahead of the latest round of games, with just ten matches of the season now remaining.
Will said: said: “It’s really tight. Everyone knows it’s such a competitive league which is why everyone enjoys watching.
“We’re glad we’ve got another game before the break to put it right and try to keep with that pack that’s looking to be around the Play-Off places, and hopefully it gives us some momentum going into the last stretch of games.
“All of us know that last week we weren’t up to our levels and we want to put in a performance we know we can. If we do that we give ourselves a good chance.
“We’ve shown throughout the season we’ve put really good runs together. We’ve had blips, but you expect that in such a long season. It’s how you react and we’re looking to do that on Saturday.”
Keano, who’s scored 12 goals since returning to the club permanently in the summer, has struck up a good partnership with Emil Riis in recent weeks, following his return from a long injury absence.
The Dane scored in four consecutive games during February, and the two have looked good together up top, with Mads Frøkjær influencing things just behind.
“It's been really enjoyable,” he said. “I think Emil’s been outstanding since coming back. I’ve been there myself a couple of times with the injury he had.
“All credit to him because it shows the work he’s been doing. He’s been like a new signing. He’s looked really sharp and got better and better with each game, and it’s great that he’s got those goals under his belt to give him that confidence.
“He’s been a massive addition to the other strikers we’ve got in the building and we’re all just looking to do the best we can. When we’re called upon we give everything, and we all know we’re going to play a part.”
Home Park is a venue North End haven’t been to since March 2010, but Will’s got himself on the scoresheet there before with Wigan Athletic.
He broke the deadlock in a 2-1 victory over the Pilgrims in the 2021/22 campaign, with Ryan Lowe in the Argyle dugout.
“It was a really emotional time,” Will remembered. “It was when Charlie Wyke suffered with the heart issue he had. It was just after that, so obviously it was devastating for the whole squad.
“It was tough to rally everyone together and get through it. Getting that late winner, we were both right up there at the top of the league at the time so that was a really big victory.
“It kept us up there and gave us a good push so I’ve got fond memories of being there and hopefully [we can get] a similar result at the weekend.”
