'Outfought' - Paul Heckingbottom laments 'lack of desire' after Preston North End's defeat to Hull
The PNE chief had his say after the 3-0 home loss.
Paul Heckingbottom says he ‘didn’t enjoy’ watching his Preston North End side in their 3-0 defeat versus Hull City on Tuesday.
Goals from Liam Millar, Akin Famewo and Oli McBurnie gave the Tigers the win, with PNE ending the game with nine games as Milutin Osmajic was shown a red card for headbutting John Lundstram and Brad Potts being forced off with a knock.
In his post-match press conference, Heckingbottom told BBC Lancashire: “Overall [I’m] really disappointed. I feel it’s the first time since I’ve been here [that] I didn’t really enjoy watching us. We were second best, we were outfought, and more as the game went on.
“After the third goal went in, the heads went down and then it looks ugly, it’s not what I went to see. Before that, I’m watching bits back there, first half, to be 2-0 down - the goals we conceded were terrible on our part and it’s not really how we’ve performed and defended throughout the season.
“For large parts of the first half, we had control [but] we couldn’t capitalise in the situations we got in. We could have had two or three tap-ins with the balls across the box. Just a real lack of desire to get in there and get that tap-in.”
On the goals, Heckingbottom added: “Goals always change games, we say this all the time don’t we? We made changes at half time, start the second half really well. Oli [McBurnie] goes to have a shot, slices wide, they get the cross in and we’re not marking tight enough in the box again.
“Three really disappointing goals and then all their changes: their subs come on with a hunger and a drive and their subs look better than ours. We always want to play a certain way. I’ve sat here many times when we’ve been beat, you’re never happy but you can accept a wayy to get beat. Today, I didn’t enjoy watching us.”