GRAHAM BURKE’S FLYING start to life at Preston North End continues apace, after the Ireland forward this evening marked his full Championship debut for the club with a first league goal.
The 24-year-old, who joined Preston from Shamrock Rovers in June, has hit the ground running at Deepdale and followed up his strike in the Carabao Cup win over Morecambe in midweek with another fine finish against Stoke City.
Rewarded for his impressive pre-season form with a start by manager Alex Neil tonight, Burke showed his goalscoring instincts by popping up at the back-post to fire home past Stoke ‘keeper Jack Butland.
Paul Gallagher’s 40th-minute penalty had given the hosts the lead before Erik Pieters drew the Potters level two minutes later with a well-controlled volley into the top-corner from close range.
But Preston hit back on the stroke of half-time through Burke, after Irish-qualified Callum Robinson mis-timed his initial effort and it fell straight into the path of the former Shamrock Rovers forward.
James McClean started for Stoke but was replaced on the hour mark, as Gary Rowett’s side earned a 2-2 through substitute Peter Crouch.
Pick that one out! 😯
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) August 18, 2018
Here's how Graham Burke hammered @pnefc ahead just before the break!
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