Source: Team_Talk
Ferguson hails PNE hero James
The England Under-20 midfielder, 18, claimed the credit in the 10th minute when his low 20-yard shot deflected off Blades defender Nyron Nosworthy and wrongfooted goalkeeper Ian Bennett.[LNB]Jon Parkin added a killer second for Darren Ferguson's men in the 71st minute, tucking away the rebound after his penalty was saved by Bennett before United winger Mark Yeates grabbed a late consolation.[LNB]James is on loan from Manchester United and after the 2-1 Championship win at Deepdale, Ferguson said: "Matty got a break when his shot got a bit of a deflection but I think it set the tone for the rest of the night.[LNB]"He's a good footballer and he gives us energies. We need a little bit more of that and he can pass and he can tackle.[LNB]"I know the boy has got a good temperament but I also thought Jon Parkin was magnificent tonight. He linked up superbly with Danny Welbeck.[LNB]"Overall, it was a really good performance and to a man we were magnificent and thoroughly deserved the win."[LNB]Preston had lost their previous two matches in disappointing fashion but Ferguson was able to celebrate his 38th birthday in style.[LNB]He added: "I don't think many of the lads know it's my birthday but it was a good win.[LNB]"That's three wins out of five and was quite clearly the best performance since I came here.[LNB]"I thought we were excellent and the lads deserve a lot of credit."[LNB]The result was a welcome tonic for Preston after two successive defeats but their opener owed much to good fortune.[LNB]Parkin did well to engineer the space down the left flank to find Welbeck - another youngster on loan from Old Trafford - and he showed intelligence to find James 20 yards from goal.[LNB]The teenager struck a hopeful low right-foot shot which deflected off Nosworthy and past the stranded Bennett.[LNB]Parkin later hit the bar before he added the killer second with 19 minutes remaining after his penalty was saved by Bennett.[LNB]Yeates, arguably United's best performer, volleyed home from 10 yards with nine minutes remaining but, despite a late rally, the visitors could not force an equaliser.[LNB]Blades boss Kevin Blackwell claimed: "We should have got something out of the game, that's for sure.[LNB]"I thought the referee had a big influence on the shape of the game.[LNB]"For the penalty Nyron Nosworthy has used his body to get between Welbeck and himself.[LNB]"It's on the DVD so I know what I'm talking about.[LNB]"But we had some chances second half and really should have finished them off.[LNB]"The problem at the moment is that we are throwing players together."[LNB]United's 18-year-old debutant Kyle Bartley, signed on a three-month loan from Arsenal, cut an assured figure at the heart of the visitors' defence.[LNB]Blackwell added: "He's only 18 but I thought he did terrifically well against big Jon Parkin.[LNB]"Arsenal rate him highly and he only arrived at the hotel this morning, but because of our injury crisis I had to throw him in."[LNB]Blackwell said he expects sidelined goalkeeper Mark Bunn to be out for around six weeks with a broken hand.[LNB][LNB]
