'Only part I didn't like' - Paul Heckingbottom breaks down Preston North End's draw with Norwich City

Preston North End boss Paul Heckingbottom took more positives than negatives away from his side’s 2-2 draw with Norwich City.

The Lilywhites were looking to back up last weekend’s home win over Coventry City - and they made the dream start to doing so. PNE led after six minutes, courtesy of Sam Greenwood’s penalty after Emil Riis had been brought down - by Canaries goalkeeper George Long.

Not long after, North End’s lead was doubled by Duane Holmes after Greenwood sent him through on goal. But, Borja Sainz pulled one back just seconds before the half-time whistle and after the hour mark, centre-back Shane Duffy popped up inside Preston’s box to equalise - with a first time finish.

Post-match, Heckingbottom said: “If you forget when the goals were scored and look at it as 2-2, against a team I think are really improving and a good side - I thought we had the better chances and they had more possession. That was the pattern of the game. I am not disappointed with the performance. There are things in there we’re improving all the time. The pleasing thing was how we set about the game. I always look at us and we prepared perfectly, because we got off to a tee with and without the ball.

“When you score the goals too early, the problem was we had players drop into a default mode. The last 15 minutes of the first half was the only part of the game where I didn’t like us. We prepare for the opponent in front of us and how they try and play. When their wide players jump, the wide forwards jump to our wide centre-backs - so we played a wing-back. Their full-back then jumps to our wing-back and the next pass is down the side.

“We did that twice and got the penalty from it. Then, without the ball we changed slightly. One of the improvements they’ve made is how good they are with the ball - they play a lot of short passes centrally and try draw you right on to them, to create the space in behind. If we’d have just stayed in our back five, without the ball, their front three would’ve pinned us in. So, we pushed Robbie (Brady) higher and narrower - to be 4-4-2 without the ball.

“Robbie then pinches the ball for the other goal, so all of those things were really important. The only disappointing thing is, when we were 2-0 up, for the last 15 minutes of the first half it was like we were protecting that lead - instead of playing the same way. And, good technical players, we invited them too close to our goal. That goal before half time was really disappointing. In the second half, we started in the same vein. It was more even in terms of territory, chances; we missed a big opportunity at 2-1.

“Not long after, they scored. I felt it was to and fro and the pattern was set - we were dangerous on the break and they had the ball. It was only, probably, the last five minutes where it shifted a bit more towards them in terms of territory and opportunities. It was (an interesting one to prepare for tactically) because I don’t ever want to be passive. We could’ve easily been 5-3-2 and that then goes to our three diamond three, which we like to do.

“But, without the ball we would’ve been sat in like we were in the last 15 minutes of the first half - and I just don’t like watching that. It is not for me. So, when you want to change and be more aggressive, my dilemma before the game is what you change to. Because, you don’t want to come off your path and what you are, so it’s how does this shape be really aggressive against that? All we did was make it slightly lob-sided, without the ball.”

Heckingbottom freshened the team up with three changes and two of those players, brought into the side, scored the two early goals. The 47-year-old felt the game plan suited Holmes down to the ground, while the contribution of Greenwood early doors pleased him.

“Yeah, I thought before Sam went off, he was probably involved in all our best moments - in terms of chances created,” said Heckingbottom. “So yeah, really pleased with him. Mads (Frokjaer) came on and did the same, so that is great. Duane, because we changed the way we wanted to play - defending narrow and in central areas - that meant we had to be a threat on the counter. And, probably, Duane is one of the best players at that.

“Fortunately for us he got the goal, but there is no doubting that style really suits him. Those were quite easy decisions really. We would’ve (made more substitutions) if we were still a 4-4-2 without the ball. Then, all of a sudden Jeppe (Okkels) and Josh (Bowler) come right into it. But, because they had gone to wing-backs and we had, all of a sudden it is less suited to them. I was going to bring Ryan (Ledson) on with Steffy, but then thought against that and wanted to keep that sub back.”