Preston answered critics – Grayson

Preston manager Simon Grayson declared that his side had silenced their doubters by beating QPR 2-0 at Loftus Road.

The Lilywhites had lost their opening three Sky Bet Championship matches this season, scoring just one goal in the process.

But Jermaine Beckford put them ahead midway through the first half and Nedum Onuoha’s own goal seven minutes after the interval sealed their first win of the season.

Grayson said: “We’ve answered one or two critics from during the last few weeks. That will keep a few people quiet for a while.

“People do tend to get a jittery when you lose the first three games. The critics have been answered.

“If you lose a couple of games midway through the season no-one cares, but lose at the start of the season and people think the world’s going to end.

“I said before that I didn’t think we were a million miles away. We were off the pace in the last three games but that was more like us.

“The players have been disappointed with the results, performances and the criticism and they felt they had a point to prove.”

Rangers rallied in the second half but Preston were worthy winners and always looked a threat on the break.

“From start to finish we were good in all departments. It was a good performance,” said Grayson, whose team were beaten at home by Derby on Tuesday.

“To limit a team like QPR to just a couple of chances – and we could have scored more goals – showed how good we were.”