Paul Heckingbottom reaction as Preston North End suffer sixth defeat in seven against Lincoln City

Paul Heckingbottom has given his reaction to Preston North End’s 1-0 defeat to Lincoln City.

The two sides were separated by a Freddie Draper header in the 80th minute. Heckingbottom spoke to the media post-match.

“No surprise in terms of how difficult the game was and the pattern of the game,” he said, “I'm really frustrated that 90% of the time, we limited the number of corners against and set plays, we did deal with them, but it was ultimately their biggest weapon. And while we're not getting in front, they are going to have their opportunities.”

On the number of missed opportunities during the game, Heckingbottom said: “That's something we have to put right. It's not an excuse, and I said to the players there, the only way to stop that noise at the end of the game is to win games.

“There's no lack of effort there, I get that, but we're not the ones forcing the big moments to go our way. I don't know how many shots we had, but they made a lot of blocks, there were so many more opportunities which were balls across the box, or really dangerous, but we're not the ones getting the touch.

“Utimately, again, I thought they defended their blocks really, really well and they're the ones who forced a scrappy goal at the other end, and it was a skill to them.”

Heckingbottom was frustrated with the nature of the goal. “I watch it back and it goes in with no pace. We've done all the work, and like I said, the boys dealt with it the majority of the day.

“We took that threat away from them, but someone told me that when they played Blackburn the other day and didn't score from a set play, it was the first time in 30 games [that they hadn’t scored], so we know and we respect that and we tried to deal with that.”

He added: “Those are key moments and we have to get every little detail right and be the one that wins the game by a set play, or ultimately, a bit like Lincoln today, be the one that forces the ball in and get the scrappiest goal, because the margins are so fine, you can see that.

“I know how difficult Lincoln has made it for all the teams this season. In spells we passed the ball well, I thought we started the second half really well, we were on top and had our moments.

“However, I felt when they scored, when they retreated right back in their box and denied all the space, that's when we couldn't force something to drop for us. We didn't have the space to open up .

“We needed to cross the front wide, we needed something to fall for us, or you need to be the most aggressive team where you're the one forcing the ball in.”