John Eustace praises matchwinner Patrick Agyemang as Derby defeat Preston

John Eustace heaped praise on Patrick Agyemang after his winner in Derby’s 1-0 Championship victory over Preston at Deepdale.

The 25-year-old United States international was a livewire throughout and missed a sitter early on in the second half but he wrapped up a deserved victory for the Rams with a well-directed header in the 82nd minute.

The Derby boss said: “We’ve been showing (Agyemang) a lot of video, what’s been good about his performances and why (he maybe) hasn’t been as good – he’s been engaging in them fully.

“He wants to develop. He’s a terrific lad. He’s just turned 25 and he’s just come from the MLS which is a completely different style and environment.

“He wants to play in the Premier League and he wants to play there with Derby and if not, he wants to go and play at the highest level and that’s my job as a head coach (to improve) players that we bring in and make them better players.”

Eustace’s men are just five points off a play-off spot and created more of the better chances over the course of the match.

“It was an excellent performance,” he added. “I thought we took the game to a really good team from the first minute and fully deserved the three points. I was fully impressed with the effort of the group.

“I think I was impressed with the way we went toe-to-toe with a difficult team on a difficult pitch and asking players, whose not in their nature to do so, to stand up (and be physical) and they did it to a tee.

“In the end, I was disappointed that we didn’t score more goals, but obviously I can live with that.”

There was a contentious decision midway through the second half when Preston winger Lewis Dobbin was upended by Matt Clarke as he looked set to shift in on goal.

While the altercation was borderline between inside and outside the box, the foul itself seemed evident, but referee Farai Hallam booked Dobbin for apparent simulation.

“I think everybody (thinks it’s a foul),” said North End boss Paul Heckingbottom. “(Clark’s) got his head in his hands. It’s a penalty or a red card, whichever side of the line it is.”

Preston had only lost two matches at Deepdale in the league this season before this, however, the cut-up state of the pitch has made for conversation of late with the ball noticeably bobbling on the surface.

Asked about the performance, he added: “It was good. As a team, we made it really difficult with the way we set up.

“Obviously, the pitch plays into their hands as well because we knew we had to work a lot on capitalising on second balls. It gives them the territory and the set-plays.

“(Derby) are good on throw-ins, free-kicks, they’re a big and aggressive side, so, no surprises there. They played exactly how I thought they would. The game was exactly how I thought.

“I thought our best opportunities came on the counter but they never really resulted in an end-pass or a shot. It got the crowd on the edge of the seat but then (you ask), what’s next?

“We know they’re up there for productivity on set-pieces, they make you defend it and first balls, second balls, they’ve done well.”