Brad Potts produces a ‘flying karate kick volley’ to help Preston beat Luton

Brad Potts produces a ‘flying karate kick volley’ to help Preston beat Luton, giving his side their first Championship win of the season.

On the 18th minute, Potts’ acrobatic opener became his first league goal since the 3rd of January, and was Preston’s first goal in the league this season – after Robbie Brady’s deep cross from the left.

The hosts couldn’t make the most of a number of good chances in either half and felt they should have had a penalty when Elijah Adebayo went down in the area.

Cauley Woodrow and Adebayo both had good efforts in the final 10 minutes, but Luton couldn’t find a way past Freddie Woodman in the Preston goal.

The win moves unbeaten Preston up to seventh place in the early Championship table, while Luton slip to 20th position.

Brad Potts this is OUTRAGEOUS 😱😱😱
pic.twitter.com/nMmBBcQMfB

— The Second Tier (@secondtierpod) August 13, 2022

Having drawn their opening two Championship games 0-0, Ryan Lowe’s Preston side were looking to avoid becoming the first team since Ipswich Town in 1998 to begin with three goalless draws.

They went ahead in superb fashion as Potts converted Brady’s deep cross shortly after Luton’s Carlton Morris had a header saved.

Jordan Clark saw his deflected effort for Luton clip the crossbar after half an hour, before Brady forced a good save from Ethan Horvath just before the half time whistle.

Potts sent in a dangerous ball across the Luton six-yard box early in the second half, shortly before the Hatters felt they should have had a spot kick after the challenge on Adebayo.

Preston’s Andrew Hughes had a header blocked at the back post from a Potts cross after an hour, and 15 minutes later Allan Campbell volleyed Elliott Thorpe’s cross wide.

Cauley Woodrow put a late chance over as Luton battled for an equaliser, while Tottenham loanee Troy Parrott sent an 89th-minute effort straight at Luton keeper Horvath.

Hatters manager Nathan Jones told BBC Radio Three Counties:

“It’s frustrating in a number of ways really. They probably had two opportunities really, one was a great header and one was shot from the edge of the box, but apart from that we limited them to very little.

“We’ve had enough of the game to have won it, so it’s just a little bit frustrating.

“It’s very difficult to chase a game now in the Championship, with the heat and everything. There was very little flow really.

“We tried to create a tempo in the game, but it just gets killed, and then a water break – we might as well not play in the heat. Why play? Just wait ’til it’s cool, wait ’til it’s cold. It’s crazy because there’s no flow.”

Preston North End manager Ryan Lowe told BBC Radio Lancashire:

“I thought the performance was OK. We could have done better in certain situations.

“We scored a fantastic goal, I thought we defended very well and managed the game well.

“We found a way today and we found a way to take three points offMa very good team.”

Fans reacted as Brad Potts produces a ‘flying karate kick volley’ to help Preston beat Luton…

@jarmstrong92: Gimme gimme gimme Brad Potts at RWB 🎶🎵 #pnefc

@Wez_chiiiii: It’s obscene this 😂😂 fair fucks

@bradley_0000: That ball

@CROSSY2211: Good grief!!! 👏👏👏

@HDavies1804: The finish is very good. That ball though..

@PR4PNE: The strike is ridiculous but let’s talk about that cross from Brady 😮‍💨

@ltfckieren: Watching that from behind the goal… fucking joke of a finish. Delivery just as good.

@JamesGi59737643: That cross is absolutely unreal

@monkstraining: That ball was perfection he could of taken the easy option of the header and the keeper would still have had no chance.

@Phil_Bazz: Brad Potts is fucking unreal 😍😍

@joshua_hopla: Brad Potts only scores worldies 🐎🐎

@jonwild96: Brad Potts is what erling haaland thinks he is

@Preston_Sim: World class!

@JoshuaCaton10: Hate to say it but it’s sensational

@jmcduck23: Jesus worships Brad Potts 🐎🐎 #pnefc

@JStevo21: Unlikely to see a better goal technically all season. Take a bow Brad Potts. 🤯

@matts_allen: Brad Potts just reached Imperial Level; there is no higher status #pnefc

@AndrewT8155: Brad Potts once again proving his masterclass

@cjm20000: Never seen brad Potts score a normal goal 🔥 what a finish #pnefc

@JimmyNagy5: Great goal 👏 get in Potts

@luke_pnefc: Oh my word what a finish

@Brookylad78: Fucking get in Pottsy lad 👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻

@weeden_sam: Brad Potts was outstanding today. When he scores, no away end is safe 🤩