Two goals down after 11 minutes and Darren Ferguson must have been fearing the worst but his team fought back twice to reduce the deficit and the Gaffer told the post-match press conference that not getting the fourth goal was the key moment for PNE.
"It's a work in progress at the moment, we knew it wasn't going to be easy when we came in but I've got a good group of players we've just got to get them playing the right way. Confidence is a big thing in football and when you go 2-0 down after 11 minutes it effects you as well as the run that we've been on in the league. But they didn't pack in which I knew they wouldn't however obviously there's a lot of work to be done."
Three goals conceded from set-pieces was the cause of the undoing for PNE and the former Peterborough manager admitted that North End's defending from setpieces wasn't of a sufficient standard.
"We'd spoken about getting crosses into the box because we knew they'd concede a few goals from there but in the second half we gave the ball away far too much and you can't give possession away especially against Bristol because they're quick and they'll catch you on the break.
"But I'm not going to be critical of my players, they kept going and I have got a good bunch but they maybe need a lift, maybe bringing in a couple might lift them and they need to get that confidence back because it's a massive thing in football. "
Asked about possible incomings to Deepdale, the Scotsman said that there was still time to add to the squad and looking at the game he lamented the missed chances that could have got PNE the all-important equaliser to make it 2-2.
"We've got two weeks until the end of the transfer window and I think there are areas we need to improve on and we'll be looking to do that but that wouldn't have been any differnt with the result today.
"It's not a bad thing or an indictment of them but you want to help them out. It was the worst possible start we could, have after 11 mintues we had a mountain to climb but we got a goal back and at 2-1 the next one is the big one and they got it unfortunately.
"Carts had a shot, Jon had a header and there were another couple -Neill Collins had a header - but we've got players in the team who can create chances however conceding the goals that we did today was a result of switching off at the wrong time."
One positive to come from the game was the introduction of teenage winger Danny Mayor in the second half for his debut and Ferguson was pleased with the Leyland-born midfielder's performance.
"I felt we needed more of a threat and the lad's got pace, he did fine, he's just come into it and he's young and he needs some confidence but I was pleased with some of the stuff he did and he tried to express himslef and that's what I was after from him.
"You've got to take the positives, we'll have a good look at the game over the weekend before the game against Chelsea next week."
