RUSSELL: WE SHOWED OUR TOGETHERNESS IN WIN OVER PRESTON

“I thought we managed the game very well”, began Russell. “I was a tad disappointed that we conceded in the dying minutes but our attitude and approach to the game was very good.

“We’ve won via a couple of penalties today but there could have been been more goals, I thought we were by far the most creative of the two teams. We probably should have benefitted more from all the chances we made for ourselves.

“We’ve got twelve games to go, this is the business end of the season now and the result becomes more important than the performance. Sometimes you have to win games ugly and just find a way to win them, it’s the vital points that make the difference in the end.

“We have really good momentum at home and we need to keep that going but we’re going to need to pick up a few more wins away from home if we’re going to get over the line.

“We’ve picked up fifteen points from eight games now so we’re nearly at two points a game. That is the sort of form we need to be hitting in the last third of the season. We’ve got a strong attitude and a sense of togetherness and I think that showed. The fans were terrific today as well.”

Russell was full of praise for Republic of Ireland international Pilkington, the scorer of both goals, who continues to excel in his new role as a central striker: “People initially called him a makeshift centre forward but I thought that was a little bit harsh. I really believe he could make a very successful career for himself in that position.