Centre half Paul Huntington spoke to PNE.Com following the draw with Swindon and said he feels things are starting to come together under the new management team.
“I think it was a dogged performance,” the North End No.4 told the official website after playing his part in a strong defensive display by the travelling Lilywhites.
“In the second half, after we scored, we were all in it together and it was a backs against the wall kind of performance.
“The manager said before the game that we would have to work hard for each other and I thought we did that well.
“The football we played was okay, but the lads and the fans that were here could see that the effort was there and it is a good point against a team that was top of the league before kick-off.”
The 25-year-old central defender has performed extremely well in the last two games, but was keen to focus on the effort shown by the whole team in picking up four points against sides top of the league in the last fortnight.
“It isn’t about individuals,” he continued. “You just try to do well for the team. There are a couple of things I am not too happy with, with my own personal game, but I will work at that this week.
“Overall, the way the lads defended as a back four and as a team – even the lads up front, the work-rate was really good – and we have set a standard now.
“That’s our minimum work-rate and we’ve shown with our last couple of results, that we can mix it with the best teams in the league and we just have to do that on a more consistent basis and keep picking up the results.
“On work-rate alone it was a pleasure to be out there. You can lose yourself in the work-rate and we were all giving 100 per cent. Towards the end it was even enjoyable when they were throwing things in; it was a good point and I am pleased with it.”
The Carlisle-born man is not new to the coaching of messrs Grayson and Snodin and is enjoying being part of things: “It’s been different. Even when John took over for a couple of days. It’s been a bit of a transition, but the manager and Glynn have got a couple of points into the defenders as to how they want us to defend and it is just adjusting to that.
“Both of them are great to work with. I have worked with them before at Leeds and I have always got along really well with them. I am looking to learn off their experience and to keep getting better as the season goes on.
“We have 13 games left now and we have to pick up as many points as possible.”
The following on the terraces was superb, with almost 1,000 vocal voices behind the team and the former Yeovil man was very grateful for the backing.
“The turn out today was great and I think they appreciated our effort as much as we did them coming along today and we all felt that at the end.
“It was a dogged performance and a good point away from home.
“We have spoken about being hard to beat and having a good shape about us and we worked on that last week in training. Even though it is early days, on Saturday we saw the kind of work-rate that is what we looking for and we have to build on that and do it every week.
“We want to be hard to break down and as the game went on we had chances and we were a bit unfortunate, but the lads dug in and got the point that I think we deserved.”
Finally he reserved praise for Will Hayhurst, after the youngster celebrated his 19th birthday a day early, scoring his first goal in North End senior colours.
“You could see his excitement when he scored and the lads were chuffed for him. I’m sure he enjoyed it.
“He was another one who put in a really good shift for the team and it was a solid performance from everyone,” he added.