Preston boss Alan Irvine saluted Paul McKenna after he inspired his side to a 2-1 opening-day victory over Ipswich.
Irvine delighted with win, Magilton wants improvement
Preston manager Alan Irvine saluted Paul McKenna after the midfielder's 25-yard piledriver inspired his side to a 2-1 opening-day victory over Ipswich.
The 30-year-old skipper turned the game by rifling into the top corner after Ipswich had taken an early lead through Kevin Lisbie at Portman Road.
The away side, who did not record a win until September in their last campaign, went on to victory after Simon Whaley tapped home a first-half winner.
"We've been doing quite a lot of shooting in the last week or so and doing it specifically to players' positions," said Irvine.
"Paul has been striking the ball well. He is a very good player, there's no question about that. It was a very good strike. When it was rolled across to him, I fancied him.
Terrific
"As far as his overall display was concerned he has carried on. He was terrific for us last year."
Irvine admitted his side had got off to a poor start to the match, going a goal down after just two minutes.
"It was a case of regrouping and recovering psychologically as much as anything," he said.
"We had worked so hard during pre-season. We came into the game feeling very good about ourselves.
"I think our season started at a quarter past three. That was the first time we made a pass, I think."
Irvine admitted he was delighted to get off to a winning start against a team that lost just once at home last season.
"I don't think we could have had a much tougher opening-day fixture, to be honest," he said.
"Their record last year was outstanding. It's a hard place to come and they are a really good team. It was a magnificent result."
Wake-up call
Ipswich boss Jim Magilton said he hoped his side's defeat would act as a "wake-up call".
"We obviously got off to such a flying start - it was a fantastic goal, great for Kevin Lisbie," said Magilton.
"Because we had such a fantastic home record last year, some of our lads thought it was automatically going to happen.
"We got punished for a sloppy 15 minutes."
He added: "We didn't have a sense of urgency.
"As a result of that, we start the season with a defeat. Maybe that's a good thing. Maybe it's a wake-up call.
"Alan Irvine will be licking his lips. It's a great result for him.
"Obviously, going one nil down, he must have feared the worst."
Magilton, who handed debuts to four players, criticised his side's defending for both goals and claimed it highlighted the need for further recruits.
"We haven't hidden away from that fact," he said.
