Alex Neil: Preston "dominated" the game against Derby but paid for penalty miss

Alex Neil felt his Preston side dominated proceedings against Derby only to pay for not taking the game's big chance in their 1-0 defeat at Deepdale on Easter Monday.
Alex Neil gets his point across during Preston's Easter Monday clash with Derby.Alex Neil gets his point across during Preston's Easter Monday clash with Derby.
Alex Neil gets his point across during Preston's Easter Monday clash with Derby.

Alan Browne missed a penalty shortly before half-time having been brought down by Andre Wisdom.

The Lilywhites then couldn’t kick on in the second half with Tom Lawrence’s long-range free-kick on 52 minutes ultimately handing the Rams a first win in nine matches.

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“At the end of the day the result is all that matters at this stage of the season,” Neil said.

Alex Neil gets his point across during Preston's Easter Monday clash with Derby.Alex Neil gets his point across during Preston's Easter Monday clash with Derby.
Alex Neil gets his point across during Preston's Easter Monday clash with Derby.

“If you look at the performance, we had more possession and 19 shots at goal even if only two were on target which is disappointing.

"The only stat that matters is the result though.

“We’re at the stage of the season where the margins are so fine.

“It’s about an opportunity missed and an opportunity scored to make the difference in our season.

Alex Neil gets his point across during Preston's Easter Monday clash with Derby.Alex Neil gets his point across during Preston's Easter Monday clash with Derby.
Alex Neil gets his point across during Preston's Easter Monday clash with Derby.
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“We had the opportunity to take the lead and that was absolutely fundamental because they would have had to change the way they played.

“They came not to lose. They sat behind the ball, we dominated the game and we had the chance to unlock it and change the match but we didn’t take it.

“We forced the issue but we didn’t show that little bit of quality that you need and disappointingly for us they’ve had one shot on target in the whole game which is free-kick from more than 30 yards out and it ends up in the back of the net.”