admin‘Absolute soft touch’ – Paul Heckingbottom vents frustration at Preston North End’s loss to Oxford United
A sixth defeat in 10 for PNE as Matt Bloomfield’s men triumph at Deepdale
Preston North End manager Paul Heckingbottom lamented ‘soft touch’ goals conceded against Oxford United on Friday.
The Lilywhites were beaten 1-3 by the relegation battling U’s, who climbed out of the relegation zone with victory at Deepdale. Michal Helik, Will Lankshear and Ciaron Brown scored the goals for the visitors, with Milutin Osmajic on the score sheet for PNE with his 12th minute equaliser.
Reflecting post-match, Heckingbottom said: “There was no surprise in how they set up, especially away from home: defend deep, deny space, be a threat on the counter and set plays. That’s why it hurts so much, and I’m so disappointed, because if we’re going to concede three goals in the manner that we did, we’re not going to have a chance in games.
“I’m looking at the minute and we were a soft touch today defending that box, absolute soft touch, and that’s happened three times since the New Year, or around that time. I know we were like a brick wall at times, whether that was denying the ball coming out of the box, or if it did come in. Everything else between both penalty boxes is just smoke and mirrors, it’s just propaganda.
“It’s both penalty boxes where the game’s won and lost and we are just disappointed with the manner of the goals. Like I say, it’s not like we didn’t know what was coming. I’m looking at the defenders we played today. Certainly Jordan, Gibbo, Hughesy, I’d have backed them defending the box against anyone, absolutely anyone. Like I said, everything else is smoke and mirrors between the box.
“It’s the mentality to win, it’s doing the jobs, being really focused on it and taking pride in it. Let’s not focus on all the nonsense, the fluff; Let’s focus on being a team that no-one wants to play against. A manager has not said that to me in a while.
“The effort and commitment was there, but they out-battled us. We ran, we competed, but we got beat up in the box. If you’ve watched us of late, there have been two or three times where we’ve looked a soft touch in those situations.”
Heckingbottom on change to back four
“To get more attacking players on the pitch, all our goalscorers on,” said the PNE boss. “To move Dobbo into a position where we could get him the ball, where they like to play narrow and get him out the middle where the bobbles are; where we’re not getting the ball into his feet. So, that was a big one.
“We still wanted the height and the aggression at the back to defend the set plays, as it’s shown how important it is today. As poor as we were defending those moments, we got ourselves back into the game. We stayed patient, we kept getting on the ball because once they scored and they can sit in, it became difficult, but we were patient.
“Got on the ball, created opportunities. The goal was very, very good. And then we had another one very similar just afterwards, same sort of build, delivery. At half-time, we spoke about more of the same with the ball but reiterated what their threats were, whether it was countering from our set plays, or playing for their own.
“But the second goal as well, I know it’s second, third phase. It’s still a set play where we don’t defend our box properly. And the third one, the same sort. If you’re going to concede three goals like that, it’s going to be a tough day.”
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