PNE boss Graham Westley shares his thoughts following Saturday’s game against Shrewsbury Town.
“Without wanting to contradict myself that you always get what you deserve, if you jeep playing with intelligence, a sense of purpose then you drive out your results.
“The team have carved out good chances and my reaction to what they do on the field of play is always honest I don’t think they got what they deserved today.
“What I do know is that the players have put in a lot of hard work today, they have covered a lot of ground, and they have played some good football.
“They don’t understand when you deliver them a home defeat and I have got respect for that. I don’t go home feeling good myself about it.
“I have always understood the anger and the frustration of the fans, they are a passionate group and they want to win.
“Those two games aside, we have been in and around most of the games we have played. We know that the dividing line between ourselves and consistent winning is slight.
“We have to look towards the next game and try and win the next game and the three points. This side hasn’t been too far away in many games this season, we were beaten convincingly at Walsall and Oldham but at 3-1 it wasn’t as bad as it could have been.
“I am delighted to have Ben in the squad and he has proven in his first couple of games that he is more than up for the job.
“He has made one mistake, I am sure he will go on in his career to make quite a few and when you play in the back line some of your decisions will cost.
“Ben has got so much about him, he is such an accomplished young player, great quality in possession, so decisive in the challenge, makes a lot of right decisions and he positioning on the whole is very good.
found out by the ball through him and centre half was frightening and he had to live, learn and improve.
“Ben Davies will be devastated I am sure but he shouldn’t be, it was an accomplished performance from a young player. I remember Scott Laird when he first played for me at Stevenage, the amount of times he got
“The Graham Cummins effort in the second half beat the goalkeeper but the defender managed to cover the ball. On a different day that finishes 4-0 rather than losing 2-1.
“At the same time their goal did lead something of a charmed life with blocks, balls were spinning off blocks and people were scrambling the ball off the line.
“If you are on the run we are on here and you are so desperate to do well on the one hand that does bring a bit of anxiety.
“We tried to put the ball in good areas with our set plays and play in their half of the pitch. The game plan was strong, well-executed on the whole and to come away with nothing they will feel they have brought a lucky charm with them today.
“If you produce 18 chances compared to their six you expect to win the game, there were large periods of the game where I thought we were in control. We played with a game plan, we were intelligent in the way we played, and we didn’t over play in the wrong areas.
“You won’t see to many games were a side is a dominant as we were, as cutting as we were and comes away with nothing to show for their efforts.
“For large periods of the game we were the better side, the dominant side creating the most opportunities and having the forward thrust.
“We have conceded from a couple of counter attacks and we are masters of our own downfall giving the ball away unnecessarily giving the ball away from a crossing situation.
“The 90 minutes produced 18 attempts on their goal and six on ours but I have to admit I don’t remember all of the six,” said the boss, who later went on to praise young defender Ben Davies.
However, Shrewsbury hit back in the second half to secure the win but after the game boss Westley admitted he felt sorry for his players and described his team as the better side.
North End were the better team for large periods and struck first when striker Stuart Beavon scored a stunning goal two minutes before the half time whistle.
The Lilywhites suffered a cruel 2-1 defeat against Graham Turner’s Shrews, with the visitors scoring an 89th minute penalty to ensure they travelled back to Shropshire with all three points.
“I feel for the lads tonight, they have put a lot of work and they could have easily got a lot more for their efforts.”