'I shouldn't really feel this flat' - Paul Heckingbottom on Preston North End's 2-2 draw with Watford

Preston North End manager Paul Heckingbottom was left with mixed emotions after Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Watford.

The Lilywhites led at the break courtesy of Lewis Dobbin’s delicate, first time effort into the bottom corner. But, Ed Still’s side came roaring back into the match with two goals in as many minutes just before the hour mark.

Othmane Maamma levelled before a low cross led to Odel Offiah putting the ball into his own net. North End were able to fight their way back into the game, though, with substitute Milutin Osmajic applying a cool, left-footed finish past Egil Selvik.

Reflecting post-match, Heckingbottom said: “It was a good game to watch. I enjoyed lots of things that we did. You're frustrated when you don't win, but I also know we went behind to a dangerous team and as we were pushing they were countering on us all the time. So, for us to get back in the game and score that good goal, I'm not displeased with the performance or the point; just frustrated that we weren't able to take three.

”They've got good players. We know how good they are, they're really dangerous, but we didn't give them any encouragement. We were good with the ball, good without the ball, kept them really quiet. They are a bit of an enigmatic team, enigmatic players. We gave them the encouragement in that five-minute spell. From that point, we showed really good character to get back in the game.

“I know they're a dangerous team with really dangerous players, trying to impress a new manager - I shouldn't really feel this flat but for some reason I do. I enjoyed the effort and the spirit and spells of the game, how well we played. Lots of good things, but lots of frustrations as well. From nowhere, we were 2-1 down and we changed, went to a back four, put more attacking players on.

”It made us vulnerable on the counter a lot, because Ben (Whiteman) was sort of isolated and we had a front five. It got us back in the game but it was opening us up, and we stayed that way for a little bit but they were still countering on us. So then we changed again and pushed T (Thierry Small) higher up. He was getting delivery and we still had the two on the top end of the pitch.

“So, we did look a bit more sure then, a bit more confident. But yeah, it was hard to get back in and probably our best chance after that - for the huff and puff - was Jordan's header at the end. It was 2-2, but we were just too open. We'd got back into it, but they looked the most dangerous. They've got a lot of pace and they're bringing a lot of pace on. That was where the problems were.

“So, by us pushing more at the top end of the pitch, we were leaving more gaps for that pace. We had to stem that and sort of change back and bring Hughsey on. But sometimes when you defend better, it allows you to attack more because you've got more of the ball back. So, rather than us always recovering back to our own goal, we did block a bit more of the space up and it pushes you a little bit higher.”

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