Preston boss Alex Neil confident he can turn Preston's fortunes around

Alex Neil says past experience gives him the confidence that he can halt Preston North End’s slide in form.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

The 4-1 defeat to Watford at Vicarage Road was the second loss in five days, with seven goals conceded.

PNE have lost five games of their last seven since October’s back-to-back wins over Queens Park Rangers and Huddersfield.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Some supporters have run out of patience with Neil, taking to social media to air their views strongly.

Ben DaviesBen Davies
Ben Davies

However, it is believed that the view at boardroom level is one of support for Neil with no agenda for change.

North End have another tough assignment tomorrow night when they make the trip to Bournemouth, the Cherries currently in second place.

Neil is strongly of the view that consistently having key players sidelined hasn’t helped the cause this season.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He was without three at Watford just through suspension, with others out due to injury.

The situation is easing though, Ben Pearson and Ben Davies playing on Saturday and in Neil’s view were PNE’s two best players on the day.

For the Bournemouth game, Alan Browne and Joe Rafferty are available.

Neil said: “When you are missing key players, that is when you see how difficult it can be.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“When we have had a fully fit squad in the three years I have been here, we have been highly competitive and competing for a top-six slot.

“At the moment, without those key players, it is a really difficult job. In my second season we had the exact same, a lot of injuries and we really struggled at the start.

“Then we got players back and went on a run when we only lost one game.

“We’ve been here before, we know how to get it done.

“Lads are coming back, I will have a couple back for Bournemouth after suspension which is great.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Looking back at the defeat to Watford, Neil felt it was only during the second half that the game got away from them.

“I thought we did well in the first half but their goal was cheap,” said Neil.

“It was a cross over at the back post which landed about four yards out and we didn’t read the lad Quina coming in off the shoulder.

“That is the difference at this level, not reading the chest down from Troy Deeney for the penalty or not tracking the run off the back of you.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“I felt the system we played gave us the best opportunity to get something.

“The way their front line is, going four versus four against them was the last thing you wanted to do.

“So I put the spare player in there and until the 60-minute mark when the game ran away from us, we did okay.”