Andy Little’s game changing goal on the stroke of half-time for Preston North End in the Capital One Cup against Rochdale not only delighted the player himself but drew praise from his new manager.

Speaking after the game, Preston manager Simon Grayson enthused: “Andy shows great desire and energy – he gets up and down the line and really works hard. He also has a goal in him and it was that great desire which got him the goal.

He got there and benefited from a couple ricochets and it was great to see it go in.” The goal was decisive for Preston as they had been under pressure from Rochdale in the opening period and the Enniskillen man was delighted to get his first competitive goal for Preston in his 100th game of league football.

“I had scored a few in pre-season but yes it was good to score and get that monkey of the back. I am relieved more than anything, it was an important goal as it came against the run of play and at a good time. When we scored just after half-time, we were able to keep possession and kill the game. Rochdale are a good side who were promoted last season, so it was a good win and it would be good to get a big team in the draw on Thursday (today).” Little has been delighted with the start he has made and is happy to have made the starting line up.

“My first aim was to be in the starting team for the league opener. We have a really big squad of 22-23 players all of whom are more than capable of playing, so that was my main aim. I know it is a long season and we will have over 50 games and the manager likes to change formations and teams, but at the minute I am happy to be starting and playing,” says Andy who has played on the right side of a three man forward line.

On Saturday, he came up against fellow Fermanagh man Roy Carroll in the 1-1 draw with Notts County and admits it was a pretty “cool moment”.

“Roy has always been someone I have looked up to. He was the first professional footballer from home that I knew and he came to our Primary School. So, yeah it was a cool moment and there was a bit of banter on the pitch. I had one effort just wide but he said he had it covered. He played really well, we had something like 18 shots on target and he made some great saves,” reveals Andy.