Paul Heckingbottom highlights 'disgusting' factor after Preston North End's loss to Wigan Athletic

Paul Heckingbottom admitted Preston North End were well off the pace in their FA Cup defeat to Wigan Athletic.

The League One outfit - managed by ex-PNE boss Ryan Lowe - triumphed 0-1 in Friday night’s third round tie at Deepdale. Harrison Bettoni’s deflected strike on 75 minutes clinched victory for Latics, who passed up the chance to double their lead when Callum Wright blazed his penalty over the crossbar.

Speaking post-match, Heckingbottom said: “From the first minute, we weren't playing how we wanted to play. I'm not talking about loose passes or a lack of energy or anything like that, I'm talking about the things that we constantly work on that I think give us an edge. We didn't do it.

“First throw, we didn't set up right and they get a shot off. Next five, ten minutes, Lindsay's right side of Dan - never done that all season. First time we get it right, we get Pol in and nearly score. Free-kicks, corners, everything to do with organisation, really - things that we pride ourselves on - we weren't as good as we normally are.

“It makes the game harder for yourself... frustrating. Today, we weren't clued in... we just weren't. We made the game hard for ourselves and made it too even, so that's the disappointing thing. It's over. You can't do anything about it now. It's pointless now. It's a big lesson again.

“I think one thing we've been pretty good at as a group is reflecting properly, being really honest and then trying to deliver and put it right - so we'll do that again. It's a frustrating performance. You get them but you don't want to have them, and I think we all feel the same because they’ve been few and far between.”

Heckingbottom on state of PNE pitch

“It's a cow field,” said Heckingbottom. “Let's not kid ourselves, it's disgusting, that's what it is, but we've got to play on it. We've recruited good footballers, we've got to play on it. We need a new pitch, we know that.

“The problem is, it may be (coming) but then that might be a choice for me: players or pitch. We can't (let it affect how we prepare/approach games). It is a factor. It suits some teams more than others, without a doubt.

“But yeah, we can't because there's nothing we can do about it. I wouldn't have said a word if you boys hadn't asked me, because all we're doing is creating an excuse. So, please make this be the last time you write about it or say something about it. What can we do? It's here until next year.”

The PNE boss was then asked if he’s been given any indication of when the pitch ought to improve, and if the cold weather has been its downfall.

“No, it's just rubbish,” said Heckingbottom. “It's the only pitch in the league that's not got any synthetic in it. It's got no undersoil heating, no synthetic in it - they always cut up. It's just a fact. That's why every club's got the other pitch, whether it's stitched or whether it's lined all the way through.

“When the grass grows in the summer, the roots bed into the plastic and then I'm not bothered if it looks like this - it's brown and there's no grass on it. It's flatter, it plays properly. That's the difference.”