2 months ago
Preston North End manager Paul Heckingbottom spoke to BBC Radio Lancashire following Saturday's 1-0 defeat by Lincoln City.
"It was no surprise in terms of how difficult that game was and the pattern of the game. We are really frustrated that 90 per cent of the time their threats, because we limited the number of corners and set-plays, we did deal with them," he said.
"But it's ultimately their biggest weapon and while we are not getting in front, they are going to have their opportunities with counter-attacks and set-plays.
"The only way to stop that noise (sounds of boos from some fans) at the end of the game is to win games.
"There is no lack of effort, I get that, but we are not the ones forcing the big moments to go our way."
#game #plays #heckingbottom #lincoln
"It was no surprise in terms of how difficult that game was and the pattern of the game. We are really frustrated that 90 per cent of the time their threats, because we limited the number of corners and set-plays, we did deal with them," he said.
"But it's ultimately their biggest weapon and while we are not getting in front, they are going to have their opportunities with counter-attacks and set-plays.
"The only way to stop that noise (sounds of boos from some fans) at the end of the game is to win games.
"There is no lack of effort, I get that, but we are not the ones forcing the big moments to go our way."
#game #plays #heckingbottom #lincoln
3 months ago
Not the start that Paul Heckingbottom would have wanted or the terrific following down the M61 from the Preston faithful.
The damage was done long before the final whistle. Two goals conceded, three yellow cards collected, countless offside decisions and barely a meaningful save required from Bolton goalkeeper Jack Bonham painted a picture of a side completely out of sync.
A switch to a back four was perhaps forecast during the week, when Heckingbottom suggested that he wants this season's squad to have more flexibility. It's fair to say that a groundswell of fan opinion has been calling for it quite regularly in recent years.
But, on the evidence of the first half, the defensive unit looked uncertain, disconnected and vulnerable whenever Bolton turned possession over and drove forward.
Heckingbottom found the first-half display a difficult one to explain. He told me: "We gave ourselves a real mountain to climb. I felt it was just something as simple as their enthusiasm, their energy about being in this league and the crowd. It seemed to catch us cold."
#bolton #paul #bonham
The damage was done long before the final whistle. Two goals conceded, three yellow cards collected, countless offside decisions and barely a meaningful save required from Bolton goalkeeper Jack Bonham painted a picture of a side completely out of sync.
A switch to a back four was perhaps forecast during the week, when Heckingbottom suggested that he wants this season's squad to have more flexibility. It's fair to say that a groundswell of fan opinion has been calling for it quite regularly in recent years.
But, on the evidence of the first half, the defensive unit looked uncertain, disconnected and vulnerable whenever Bolton turned possession over and drove forward.
Heckingbottom found the first-half display a difficult one to explain. He told me: "We gave ourselves a real mountain to climb. I felt it was just something as simple as their enthusiasm, their energy about being in this league and the crowd. It seemed to catch us cold."
#bolton #paul #bonham
3 months ago
Preston North End manager Paul Heckingbottom spoke to BBC Radio Lancashire following his side's 2-1 defeat by Bolton:
"I said at half-time to the players I thought we could win the game. We were poor first-half in terms of the goals that we gave away," he said.
"Whether it was the first game or not but they were certainly not the goals that we want to give away.
"We gave ourselves a real mountain to climb and it was as simple as their enthusiasm, their energy about being in this league and the crowd - it seemed to catch us cold.
"One or two [players] won't play like that again. We need to be better but there were also some good moments and I'm pleased with some of the new boys."
#away #preston
"I said at half-time to the players I thought we could win the game. We were poor first-half in terms of the goals that we gave away," he said.
"Whether it was the first game or not but they were certainly not the goals that we want to give away.
"We gave ourselves a real mountain to climb and it was as simple as their enthusiasm, their energy about being in this league and the crowd - it seemed to catch us cold.
"One or two [players] won't play like that again. We need to be better but there were also some good moments and I'm pleased with some of the new boys."
#away #preston
3 months ago
It was an afternoon when much of the focus was on the location, but it ended in celebration.
Preston North End booked their place in round two of the Carabao Cup after showing character and composure in a memorable match on Merseyside for two new signings.
A red card for Lewis Gibson midway through the first half had Paul Heckingbottom's men on the ropes but they cleared their heads and found a way to hit back.
Goodison Park became home for a day just under 60 years after Howard Kendall famously made the 35-mile journey from Preston to sign for the Toffees.
'The Grand Old Lady' has played temporary host to visitors before, including Pele's Brazil in 1966, Sir Matt Busby's Manchester United and the FA Cup final in 1894 and 1910.
#merseyside #lewis #park
Preston North End booked their place in round two of the Carabao Cup after showing character and composure in a memorable match on Merseyside for two new signings.
A red card for Lewis Gibson midway through the first half had Paul Heckingbottom's men on the ropes but they cleared their heads and found a way to hit back.
Goodison Park became home for a day just under 60 years after Howard Kendall famously made the 35-mile journey from Preston to sign for the Toffees.
'The Grand Old Lady' has played temporary host to visitors before, including Pele's Brazil in 1966, Sir Matt Busby's Manchester United and the FA Cup final in 1894 and 1910.
#merseyside #lewis #park
3 months ago
Preston North End skipper Ben Whiteman has told boss Paul Heckingbottom he "has played his last game" for the club amid attention from fellow Championship side Wrexham.
The midfielder only missed three Championship games for Preston last season but Heckingbottom does not seem likely to welcome him back with open arms should a move over the Welsh border not materialise.
"Ben knew there was a line I didn't want him to cross and unfortunately he has," Heckingbottom told BBC Radio Lancashire.
"There's a valuation on him, I just hope for Ben's sake that Wrexham are willing to pay it otherwise he's put himself in a sticky situation.
"He's made his bed. I'm not bothered as long as I get another player."
#championship #wrexham
The midfielder only missed three Championship games for Preston last season but Heckingbottom does not seem likely to welcome him back with open arms should a move over the Welsh border not materialise.
"Ben knew there was a line I didn't want him to cross and unfortunately he has," Heckingbottom told BBC Radio Lancashire.
"There's a valuation on him, I just hope for Ben's sake that Wrexham are willing to pay it otherwise he's put himself in a sticky situation.
"He's made his bed. I'm not bothered as long as I get another player."
#championship #wrexham
5 months ago
It's Tuesday, 16 June 2026.
If we rewind 36 years to 16 June 1990 and the Italian city of Genoa, Stuart McCall was busy scoring to help Scotland secure a 2-1 win over Sweden.
The former midfielder jokes that he "was always deadly from a yard out" and ultimately that victory wasn't enough to ensure Scotland progressed to the knock-out stage, but up until this weekend, it was their last win at a World Cup finals.
Now the 62 year-old is ******* istant to Paul Heckingbottom at Preston North End, but he's also enjoying absorbing all the action from the United States, Canada and Mexico.
As a former Motherwell manager, he's been glad to see the Steelmen's Elijah Just scoring a brace for New Zealand in their 2-2 draw with Iran, but chiefly he's delighted that Scotland now have a more up-to-date World Cup win to look back on, albeit a nervy 1-0 triumph over Haiti.
If we rewind 36 years to 16 June 1990 and the Italian city of Genoa, Stuart McCall was busy scoring to help Scotland secure a 2-1 win over Sweden.
The former midfielder jokes that he "was always deadly from a yard out" and ultimately that victory wasn't enough to ensure Scotland progressed to the knock-out stage, but up until this weekend, it was their last win at a World Cup finals.
Now the 62 year-old is ******* istant to Paul Heckingbottom at Preston North End, but he's also enjoying absorbing all the action from the United States, Canada and Mexico.
As a former Motherwell manager, he's been glad to see the Steelmen's Elijah Just scoring a brace for New Zealand in their 2-2 draw with Iran, but chiefly he's delighted that Scotland now have a more up-to-date World Cup win to look back on, albeit a nervy 1-0 triumph over Haiti.
