Preston boss left frustrated by goals conceded in opening day defeat | OneFootball

Paul Heckingbottom lamented Preston North End for the way they conceded their goals during their opening day defeat to Bolton.

Bolton returned to the Championship for the first time in seven years, and put Preston to the sword, with goals from Sam Dalby and Thierry Gale securing Steven Schumacher’s side the victory.

Jusef Erabi pulled one back for the visitors with four minutes from time, but it was not enough for Preston, who have not won their opening game of a league season since a 1-0 success against QPR in 2018-19.

Heckingbottom was left disappointed by the manner in which his side conceded both of their goals.

“I felt like the goals we gave away were really poor from our point of view. We know that. We need to be tidier in those moments, it’s a poor decision for the counter.

“We got this stadium sort of rocking for them by our own shortcomings if you like because I still felt we were the team who got in behind them more than they got in behind us in the first half.

“But then we weren’t positive enough, direct enough, or we lacked moments of quality when we broke three-v-one, you know, to not get a shot away and create the chances. 

“At half-time, I knew that we were in the game and knew that we weren’t going to play as poorly in the second half and we’d always be a threat if we could get that right at the top end of the pitch.

“We got better and better as the game wore on and then the frustration is [not getting] a point, but I think if you look at the chances at the end and the nature of the chances it’s three points lost.”