Daryl Horgan comes off bench to score beautiful winner for Preston

Ben Kiely

There was one difference between Preston North End and Burton Albion on Saturday, and his name was Daryl Horgan.

As soon as Daryl Horgan came off the bench at the Pirelli Stadium on Saturday evening, he changed the game.

The former Dundalk star came on alongside Josh Harrop as part of a double substitution on the 63rd minute in place of Alan Browne and Jordan Hugill.

When Horgan entered the game, neither team had broken the deadlock. A minute into his appearance, Preston came pretty damn close to grabbing an opener because of a chance he created.

64' Superb ball into the box by Horgan and Barkhuizen's effort from eight yards out is volleyed wide!

0-0 #pnefc

— Preston North End FC (@pnefc) December 9, 2017

Preston captain Tom Clarke grabbed the game’s opener from a corner that, you guessed it, Horgan forced.

Paul Gallagher whipped it into the back post where Clarke met it. His effort got as far as a defender only to land right back at his feet. He stabbed back in the deflection to fire his team one goal up after 66 minutes.

With the momentum shifting in the away team’s favour, Horgan only grew more into the game. He was putting in a performance that warranted a goal.

78' Fantastic run from Horgan who ran from inside the PNE half and into the box but Bywater does brilliantly to save his effort with his right hand!

0-1 #pnefc

— Preston North End FC (@pnefc) December 9, 2017

Then, on the 83-minute mark, the Irishman was rewarded for all that hard work by getting his name on the scoresheet.

The ball broke for Tom Barkhuizen on the edge of the box. His deflected effort found its way to Horgan who made no mistake with the follow-up.

2-0 up with seven minutes left.

Breathing room.

Great goal by Daryl Horgan #PNEFC pic.twitter.com/ZhHdZU9b0N

— Ben Kiely (@TheJivemaster) December 9, 2017

Preston needed that two-goal cushion. In added time, Lucas Akins found the back of the net from inside the box to give the home side a consolation goal.

Horgan’s effort turned out to be the game-winner as it finished 2-1 to the good. Although their third win in four games didn’t change Preston’s position in the league, it did bring them within five points of the play-off places.

After the game was over, it was Horgan’s name that was on everyone’s lips.