Ferguson delight at first win

Ferguson: Pleased with display

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Preston manager Darren Ferguson hailed the character of his side after they recorded their first Championship win of the season with a 1-0 success over Portsmouth.

Paul Hayes scored the decisive goal after 18 minutes when he converted a pinpoint cross from Billy Jones to give Ferguson's men some respite after two consecutive defeats.

With only three games of the season gone, the former Peterborough boss claimed that he was unconcerned by the losses.

Ferguson said: "A lot of people have been quick to write us off, especially after we lost the first two games. But it was only two games and there was no big panic here at the club.

"I know what I've got in this squad. There are some really good players, some really good energy. And when we play with that sort of tempo then we will be a hard team to beat.

"It was important to get a reaction after our 4-0 defeat at Swansea last weekend. And I think I got that from the lads. We kept a clean sheet - which is a big bonus - and we looked a threat going forward.

"The good thing for me now is that I have real problems selection-wise. And they are the sort of problems I need."

No complaints

Portsmouth remain without a league win since relegation from the Premier League and manager Steve Cotterill had no complaints about the result.

"We didn't really turn up in any part of the game," he said.

"I thought that was probably our weakest 90 minutes. At least in the other games we had a bit of dominance for a while. But not in this game.

"It wasn't a game that we deserved to get anything from if I am honest.

"But we don't have many bodies at the moment and I hope that is not a situation which continues for a while."