Paul Heckingbottom reaction as Preston North End suffer fourth straight league defeat

Paul Heckingbottom has reacted after Preston North End’s 3-1 defeat to Bristol City.

Bristol City took an early lead as Scott Twine fired the ball home from six yards. Caleb Wiley equalised on 51 minutes in style with a thumping 25-yard effort on his full debut.

Despite a much improved performance in forward areas, the visitors proved more clinical and Lisav Eissat and Dom Ballard scored second-half goals, meaning PNE start the campaign with four straight defeats and are bottom of the league.

Post-match, Heckingbottom told BBC Radio Lancashire: “It's always about the results. You've heard me say over and over that the game is determined in both boxes, and a great example of that today

“We created a lot of chances and didn't take them, and they did. Simple.

“I felt we should have been in front at half-time. We're not. We start the second half really well and miss some more chances, then score a good goal and miss some more, and then a set play, always crucial, and a mistake.

“Whilst they were dangerous, and Bristol always carry this threat, throughout the last few years, they've always been a really good counter-attacking team in transition. I felt we carried equally as much threat, if not more.”

On how the goals were conceded, Heckingbottom said: “Stan [Mills] got caught, but he can be pleased with the debut apart from that.

“It puts us on the back foot, but I thought the response was excellent from that moment all the way through.

“I thought we lost our way a little bit, in terms of energy towards the end, when we were trying to make subs.

“When we went behind 2-1 and we were trying to force and make subs, I felt we still huffed and puffed and had moments, hit the post, so we still kept going.

“But I didn't think we carried the same threat, the same control when we were attacking them.”

On Wiley and Mills’ debuts, Heckingbottom told the Lancashire Post: “Yes, really pleased with them. I think Stan got caught out early on for the goal but grew into the game.

“I think what you can see is why we want the deliveries he puts in the box. I think Jonny will be in his stands licking his lips at that. So, pleased with the recruitment.

“Caleb, someone who I've watched for the last 18 months. Had one or two injuries, come back fit, tracked him for a while.

“He's a good talent, good footballer, good athlete. You could see him making the back post as well when Stan was getting in on the other side. So, listen, I'm pleased to get those two.”

Heckingbottom feels his side are getting better, particularly from an attacking point of view.

He told the Lancashire Post: “Yes [things will turn]. And yes, attaching-wise, much better.

“But I still feel for the amount of ball we had in their final third and in and around their back four and down the sides of their back four, there still weren't enough attempts on goal.

“I know there were plenty of shots, but that's the little bit where we hope Jonny can help us, where we're going to work on now.

“Now we know what we're going to be playing and the shape we're going to be playing. We can be working on those players because, like I said, there's a lot of signs there.

“But that has to turn into chances, shots and goals.”

Heckingbottom praised the fan support on Tuesday night, telling the Lancashire Post: “I think they responded to the lads' performance, didn't they? Getting cheered off like that at half-time.

“I've said many times, we need the fans. Everyone sticks together. we're going to work together, first and foremost to get a result against Blackburn and then after that, to climb up the table.”