Manager Simon Grayson was pleased with his side's first half performance in his side's final game of pre-season.
North End were beaten 3-2 by Bury at Gigg Lane, and the gaffer admitted it was a game of two halves, with his side lacking the enthusiasm to win the game in the second half.
"Though it's disappointing to lose, we've said all the way through pre-season that it's a means to an end. It's about getting players fit, sorting out the organisation and the discipline of the team so results aren't the 'be all and end all'.
"Of course we want to win every game but we are looking at the performances rather than the actual result.
"The overriding view when you look at the performance today was that first half I thought we played some good stuff. I thought we were good going forward, I thought they had the first ten minutes but from then on we played very well.
"Second half we were poor. We didn't have any real enthusiasm or zest to our play and we didn't defend well enough as individuals or as a team. Obviously to concede three goals, one a dubious penalty, is disappointing."
clicking here.To hear more from the manager and to hear post-match reaction from midfielder John Welsh, go to PNE PlayerHD by