Clough salutes `huge victory`

01 January 2011 20:30
Derby manager Nigel Clough declared himself happy with the 2-1 win at Deepdale but also praised Preston for making it a hard game. A second-half brace from Chris Porter put the Rams 2-0 up, and although Callum Davidson pulled a goal back with a 90th-minute penalty, North End fell to their 14th league defeat in 23 games this season in what was David Unsworth`s first match as caretaker manager. Clough said: "I don't think Preston could have tried any harder. "It's a huge victory that stops a run of defeats. I would have taken a point before the match to stop the rot, but to get the three is a bonus. "I feel over the course of the game, with the chances we made, that we just about deserved it. It was pretty scary early on, and late on. I don't think Preston could have thrown anymore at us. There were an awful lot of balls put into the box and if that many balls go into the box it's always likely that something will drop for you. "I said well done to the lads as the end, as we kept playing and kept passing the ball around which is our strength."

Source: PA