'I've said to everyone' - Paul Heckingbottom on Preston North End's draw with QPR and Thierry Small error
PNE drew 1-1 with Queens Park Rangers on Easter Monday
Preston North End boss Paul Heckingbottom wants everyone to rally around Thierry Small after his costly error against QPR.
The Lilywhites ended up drawing 1-1 against the Rs at Deepdale, with substitute Small scoring the most unfortunate of own goals. Brad Potts had broken the deadlock straight after the restart.
Potts’ first goal of the campaign was on course to earn the hosts all three points, and back-to-back home victories. However, Small went to smash a bobbling, low cross clear but horribly sliced it into his own net, eight minutes from time.
Post-match, Heckingbottom said: “I feel for everyone... players, staff, the last two games. I've said to everyone down there, get around Thierry. No-one wants to be that player. He's had a big swipe, it’s taken a horrific bobble, come off his shin and gone in.
“Yeah, can't legislate for that. The frustrating thing is we've scored a fantastic goal again, the same as Friday. Friday we could say the mistakes, not intended mistakes; today was just purely afreak goal.
“No blame... the only thing is you're looking at trying to have a big surface area. Don't swipe, just get good contact. They're the coaching bits but I think if it had been coming on the full, he's clearing that.
“But the fact it's bobbled across and then took a big jump up, he can't anticipate that, he can't read that. I've just said to the players, get around him. It could’ve happened to any one of our players and no-one wants to be that player.”
On the performance, he added: “You have to see how the other team set up. I was fully prepared for them to, as soon as we won the ball back, drop into that block and block up the middle of pitch.
“We've seen teams do that and I've said it before, that's when we have to be patient. The players, the crowd, we have to be patient. We have total control but you can still be vulnerable then, when teams want to play that way and try and play on the counter.
“The bits we wanted to try and exploit a bit better was playing that little bit quicker, to try and play when they're not in that block. Or, if they are, risk the ball going in behind, but make sure we have the overload in those positions.
“I think the goal is the perfect example. Dan gets on it, plays quick into Ben... Ben takes out six players with one pass and then we've got six on their back line, so we beat it. And then Alfie picks out the right pass, and Pottsy slides it in.
“So yeah, really, really good goal and then the game is different because, as much as they will still get behind the ball, they've got to take more risks, bodies forward and we have a different option then.
“We can be that threat on the counter, but we couldn't get the second goal. We lost a bit of calmness when they equalised, I felt, and that's the bit of the game we have to manage.
“We still managed some moments really, really well. But they got a header which shouldn't be free in the box. We should deal with it; a little bit of panic. And then Andy (Moran) played a loose pass and they broke on us for the other one.
“So, they were the two moments and I think everyone was beat up a little bit by the way we conceded the goal. We've made four (subs), we had one more. But I'm looking then at their top line...
“From that block when they're in the 4-2-4, they quickly just play those four players high and narrow, so we needed to make sure we dealt with that. And overall, particularly up until they equalised, I felt we did.”
Heckingbottom on Potts’ goal
“I think the fact he takes it early without having a touch is what does the goalkeeper,” said Heckingbottom. “Pottsy can do that... you've seen him do it from wing-back. He's a goal-scoring midfielder.
“He deserved it (the opportunity) because he'd been working hard. Andy was unlucky. He scored the goal the other day and had an assist the game before, which is good. Back to your point earlier, we want to be a goal threat.
“We want to have those players available. If you've got too many players just good between both boxes, you're not going to dominate leagues. It's not about how you play, it's about winning games.
“Doing your job at one end, in terms of limiting chances, being brave, putting your body on the line, making blocks, stopping the ball coming into your box is one thing. Then doing the same thing at the other end, being as brave and as aggressive to score goals.
“Pottsy can arrive in the box and score goals. I think one area we have improved this season is scoring goals like that, in terms of threat and how we pass the ball. But certainly, we don't score enough ugly goals and of course, from set plays - which would help us get up in the league.”