AFTER defeating Huddersfield Town, Preston boss Graham Westley hailed young winger Danny Mayor as "virtually unplayable."
The 21-year-old wideman showed lightning pace and clever feet to prove the difference and inspire the Lilywhites to a first win in seven games.
Mayor’s burst from the left wing set up the only goal for Chris Robertson but he had another couple of efforts which could have buried Town.
Mayor and attacking midfielder Paul Coutts outshone Town wingers Gary Roberts and Danny Ward and Westley said: "Coutts and Mayor were on a different level.
"Mayor was virtually unplayable and Coutts took on a lot of responsibility. The pair of them going forward were a real handful.
"In a very good team display both deserved credit for their individual performances."
Westley praised Mayor’s work ethic off the field.
"We trained long and hard on Thursday but Danny stayed on. If the penny has dropped with him that if he combines hard work with his ability then he is destined for the very top."
Westley, who – as Stevenage manager – was involved in a spat with then Town boss Lee Clark earlier this season, was a much more composed figure on the touchline. A relaxed Westley told the post-match press conference he was a little surprised at Town’s "more defensive" formation which "meant the middle of the park was congested."
That, he suggested, was why the teams seemed to cancel each other out for the first half hour.
"In the first half the sides were sussing each other out," he said. "We had to make two enforced substitutions (Iain Hume and Paul Parry were both taken off with injuries just before half-time) and they were a big factor in helping us. Craig Morgan came on and gave us more authority and organisation and Coutts moved into a more central position."
Preston had only won twice in 17 games.
"Seventeen or 18 games ago we wouldn’t have gone into a game against a team like Huddersfield believing we could turn them over,"said Westley.
"We have progressed but we can’t get carried away."
Westley said he never felt that Town would score.
"It was like our team had made up their mind they were not going to concede," he added.
