Manager Graham Westley shared his thoughts after the game at Colchester United.
The Lilywhites dominated the first half in Essex, however, they were unable to finish their chances in front of goal and were made to pay when former West Ham United striker Freddie Sears hit a second half winner for the U’s.
Speaking to the press after the game, Westley believes his North End squad are not too far away from where they want to be and the hard work will start again ahead of Tuesday’s trip to Yeovil Town.
“We are disappointed to have lost another game, the work ethic of players over the 90 minutes was solid and the desire they were showing to get back into the game to win with the score line at 0-0 was clear,” he said.
“The difference between what we are doing and winning is very slight, but we are on the wrong side of the line on a consistent basis at the moment and we have to make sure we change our mind set so we get over the line.
“We need to do a little bit more not less in both possession and defence. At their end of the pitch on a very different day we could have scored through Procter’s header from the set play early on.
“Lee Holmes hit the bar in the second half with the goalkeeper’s help. Joe Garner also had a volley late on which went over and I have picked out three very good chances.
“We had numerous other opportunities where we could have found their net, but defensively we concede soft goals. We know we don’t concede a lot of chances, we organise ourselves quite well around the opposition but at vital moments we make errors.
“Today Bailey Wright has held his hand up and admitted he has committed to a front foot challenge when he has lost his full back and he should have held his line together and committing.
“He is a young player and he is still learning to play in a defensive system and we have paid the price for it.
“You get what you deserve in life and in football, I am consistent with that, if you get beaten don’t look for excuses. Don’t cast it away and invite the good old friend luck to be the reason why you didn’t get the result.
“You have to luck at yourselves and we have all had a good chat after the game, we have had a long hard look at ourselves and there are little things that are going on, whether it is a corner which hits the first man, we have got good aerial ability so let’s put the ball into the box.
“We have got very good technical players so when we are not putting the ball into the box they need to take a look at themselves and they have to work and make sure that they are getting simple technical things right.
“That is one example that an individual can do better and as individuals if we can go and get a few more things right in our game, in both defence and attack, then we can get over the line.
“They are all big enough players to concentrate on the job at hand, we have to restore our confidence by getting the work ethic right, keeping the belief and staying together.
“We could have very easily won three games on the bounce, but we have lost three, we have to make sure we obliterate the fine margins that are going against us and put them in our favour.”