Manager Simon Grayson spoke to PNE PlayerHD after the final game of the season, as his Lilywhites grabbed an injury-time point against Leeds.
Jordan Hugill’s goal gave the side a 1-1 draw with a 92nd minute finish in front of a jubilant Town End and the manager felt it was nothing more than they deserved.
“Today has summed up a lot of things we have done this year,” he told the Club’s online TV channel. “We have played well, defended well, but just not been ruthless enough in the opposition’s 18 yard box.
“We had chances, but we took the wrong decision of not shooting when we should do and then shooting when we should have passed. It has been something we have talked about. We have to be better at those things next year, but ultimately we are picking at little things.
“It has been a fantastic season.
“The players have done everything that has been asked of them and to finish where we have finished has been a fantastic achievement. To get the equaliser late on was something we thoroughly deserved, so I was delighted to get the result.”
The game itself was a typical end of season encounter with little tempo too it, but until the visitors’ second half penalty, they rarely looked like threatening Chris Kirkland’s goal.
“They didn’t look like they were going to score,” continued the gaffer. “We had possession, but didn’t really look like hurting them too much. The game opened up a little more second half.
“We were disappointed with the goal, but ultimately we had a goal that was disallowed that was certainly onside and we got our just rewards.
“It would have been nice to win the game and finish in the top ten, but a lot of credit to goes to the players for what they have done.”
Jordan Hugill proved the hero on the day and it was his determination that brought his fifth goal of the season and his first league goal at Deepdale.
“That was what Jordan will give you. Sometimes he knows that he will control a ball and it will run of out play, but he will give you everything.
“He is still learning; he is young, he is raw and he is still developing, but you want player who will keep going to the very end and that’s what we are as a squad.
“We will do as much as we can as a squad to try and get points out of games and other teams might have accepted, moved on to the summer and packed their suitcases, but our lads had a go and I am delighted that they kept doing that,” added the PNE chief.
To watch the full interview with the manager on PNE PlayerHD, along with the thoughts of the goalscorer, click here now.
“Today has summed up a lot of things we have done this year,” he told the Club’s online TV channel. “We have played well, defended well, but just not been ruthless enough in the opposition’s 18 yard box.
“We had chances, but we took the wrong decision of not shooting when we should do and then shooting when we should have passed. It has been something we have talked about. We have to be better at those things next year, but ultimately we are picking at little things.
“It has been a fantastic season.
“The players have done everything that has been asked of them and to finish where we have finished has been a fantastic achievement. To get the equaliser late on was something we thoroughly deserved, so I was delighted to get the result.”
The game itself was a typical end of season encounter with little tempo too it, but until the visitors’ second half penalty, they rarely looked like threatening Chris Kirkland’s goal.
“They didn’t look like they were going to score,” continued the gaffer. “We had possession, but didn’t really look like hurting them too much. The game opened up a little more second half.
“We were disappointed with the goal, but ultimately we had a goal that was disallowed that was certainly onside and we got our just rewards.
“It would have been nice to win the game and finish in the top ten, but a lot of credit to goes to the players for what they have done.”
Jordan Hugill proved the hero on the day and it was his determination that brought his fifth goal of the season and his first league goal at Deepdale.
“That was what Jordan will give you. Sometimes he knows that he will control a ball and it will run of out play, but he will give you everything.
“He is still learning; he is young, he is raw and he is still developing, but you want player who will keep going to the very end and that’s what we are as a squad.
“We will do as much as we can as a squad to try and get points out of games and other teams might have accepted, moved on to the summer and packed their suitcases, but our lads had a go and I am delighted that they kept doing that,” added the PNE chief.
To watch the full interview with the manager on PNE PlayerHD, along with the thoughts of the goalscorer, click here now.