DELIGHTED Joe Royle praised the division's top entertainers and vowed they would carry on going for goals.The three against Preston took their goals for and against tally to 51 in the league, and their 31 goals in the plus column, is just three behind leaders Wigan.

By Derek Davis

DELIGHTED Joe Royle praised the division's top entertainers and vowed they would carry on going for goals.

The three against Preston took their goals for and against tally to 51 in the league, and their 31 goals in the plus column, is just three behind leaders Wigan.

Royle said: “People will doubt the quality of this division but it is very competitive and we are up there.

“I like to think we play the kind of football most people like to watch and we will keep going for goals. We have a spread of goals rather than two leading scorers as Wigan have.”

Royle was pleased at the manner of the victory against Preston who have not won away in the league since last January and have not scored in six games.

He said: “I do read occasionally we are a long-ball team which still makes me laugh but I thought our football at times was outstanding.

“I was disappointed that one or two at the end slackened off and gave them some half chances but overall the 3-0 flattered Preston.

“We hit the post, had one cleared off the line, Tommy Miller's had a one-on-one with the keeper, we might have had a penalty and there were other attempts.”

Town kept denied the opposition a goal for the first time since September 12, when Millwall were the visitors.

Royle said: “Preston's away form is not great and they passed it around without ever hurting us.

“We defended well in front of him (goalkeeper Lewis Price) but at the end one or two decided the game was won and didn't have to go with runners. Perhaps I'm being a bit miserly when we played so well and scored three goals.”

Royle highlighted top scorer Shefki Kuqi's contribution and will be glad the Finland striker turned down moves to Korea and Germany in the summer after being told he was free to go.

Royle added: “He thoroughly deserved his goal but has probably missed easier chances than the one he scored. There has never been a problem with Shefki's contribution - he always gives you 90 minutes' hard graft.”

Town take on a resurgent Sheffield United tomorrow with Fabian Wilnis a definite non-starter and Tommy Miller also an injury doubt.

Royle added: “Two injuries for us with the size of our squad is almost a crisis.”

Matt Richards will step back in at left back while the Blues could go with three up front if Miller fails to recover from his calf injury.