Scott Wiseman thinks Preston North End deserved more from their FA Cup fourth round replay against Nottingham Forest.
The Lilywhites were beaten 2-0 by the Championship outfit, thanks to goals from Jamie Mackie and Darius Henderson, but Simon Grayson’s side dominated possession and had more shots on goal.
Speaking exclusively to PNE.Com following the match, Wiseman said: “We knew we were going to have to put in a performance to get a result and unfortunately we put in the performances but didn’t get what we deserved out of it.
“Especially when their players are coming off the field and telling us it’s the biggest battering they have had all season and one of the best teams they’ve played all season.
“So it’s a massive compliment for us and what we’re trying to achieve here.”
He added: “Sometimes you give 100% and play badly, today we gave 100%, played well and still didn’t get anything out of the game and that’s how it goes sometimes.
“We can maybe afford to do that in the FA Cup but we can’t afford to do that on Saturday and that’s what won’t happen.”
Forest had just two shots on target all evening, both of which resulted in goals, and Wiseman believes that statistic is testament to the quality in Billy Davies’ squad.
“That’s the strength that they have and that’s why they’re playing at such a high level, because they’ve got the players and they pay the money,” the defender said.
“The quality that they’ve got to do that, it’s one of those things that we can’t affect now and can’t affect beforehand either.”
He added: “They’ve been turning teams over week in, week out and they’re not where they are in the league and not expected to do what they are for no reason.
“So for us to have that much possession is absolutely brilliant.”
Once again, Preston fans were in full voice and created an excellent atmosphere under the lights at Deepdale, in front of the BT Sport cameras.
And Wiseman, who completed 90 minutes against Forest, was full of praise for the supporters, saying: “The fans were absolutely fantastic, I don’t think they stopped clapping, singing, dancing, everything for 90 minutes.
“They were really drilling it home for us to keep pushing when we’re tired and trying to kick through and kick on and I don’t know how it didn’t go in but we could still be playing now and it’s still not going to go in.”