FORMER Blackburn Rovers youngster Joe Garner paid tribute to boss Simon Grayson after Preston North End secured promotion to the Championship.

Preston thrashed Swindon Town 4-0 in the League One play-off final at Wembley on Sunday, meaning Garner will now be able to take on his old club Rovers in the second tier next season.

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Manager Grayson is also a former Blackburn player and Garner says the boss deserves real credit for guiding Preston to promotion.

“We played very well and that’s credit to the gaffer,” the striker said.

“He set us up the way we needed to because we knew they played a certain way but the gaffer combated that, so credit to him.

“I don’t think we expected it to be 4-0 because they are a good side. We scored at vital times, we scored early.

“We spoke about starting well and everything came to plan.”

Garner was a boyhood Preston supporter and was at Wembley as a spectator on the club’s last visit to the national stadium in 1994.

“It’s special for the fans,” said the 27-year-old.

“Hopefully they have a nice summer and we come back next year even stronger.”

Another former Rovers striker, Paul Gallagher, was yesterday chosen as the winner of Preston’s players’ player of the season award. Garner won goal of the season.

There was another Rovers connection as Kevin Davies won Preston’s community player of the year.