By Craig Hope

WHEN Kevin Nolan spun in the Preston penalty area before directing his low shot beyond a rooted home keeper and into the far corner of the net, the Liverpudlian had, in one swift movement, sent nearly 3,500 Geordies behind the goal into joyous rapture.

Nolan's subsequent celebration, as passionate as it was animated, merely served to amplify the level of noise emanating from a by now euphoric away end.

The singing didn't stop from there on in as the black-and-white faithful roared their boys to a fourth consecutive victory during the final 16 minutes of Monday night's triumph at Deepdale.

And, as match-winner Nolan told nufcTV, sending the Toon Army home with a smile on their face really had made his day.

"It makes your day when you see the fans celebrating like that," he said after United srcapped their way to a narrow 1-0 win to climb back to the top of the Championship.

"The fans are delighted to see us digging in and having a good proper go.

"I think they're enjoying seeing us win ugly because they haven't seen that for a while away from home.

"I hope they go back up the road now singing and cheering and have a few drinks on us."