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.
https://twitter.com/pnefc/status/939530472610287617
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.
https://twitter.com/pnefc/status/939534055858688001
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.
https://twitter.com/TheJivemaster/status/939554244511911936
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.
https://twitter.com/PNEDAVID10/status/939543358325870592
https://twitter.com/pneadam/status/939548819187994624
https://twitter.com/dom_33/status/939536118915194883
https://twitter.com/northwestpne/status/939531388650426371
https://twitter.com/abbikenyon6/status/939546363553075202
