North End’s Alan Browne felt North End were well worth their point against promotion chasing Middlesbrough tonight, and even felt they could have gone on to win the game.
It was Browne himself who broke the deadlock two minutes from the first half with a calm and composed finish into the corner. James Tavernier matched things up early in the second half before both sides pushed for a winner under the lights at Deepdale.
Before the game, Browne admits North End looked at Boro’s tactics after seeing the starting XI.
“We knew what their game plan was when we saw their line up - It was like the land of giants out there!” said Browne in his post-match interview with iFollowPNE.
“But we more than matched them and we defended our area well and more than held our own. Considering where they are in the table, it’s a good point.
“Considering the amount of possession we had, we should have created three or four more chances but we didn’t want to rush or force anything, we just wanted to keep it moving as well as we possibly could.
“We worked well with possession in the first half and in the second half the game changes and we’re just disappointed with how the goal went in. We’ve got a point and it’s probably a fair one at the end of the day.
“We just needed a bit more luck, we managed to find a way through eventually but I don’t think we’re too disappointed with the point. It was a top class performance and that’s what we looked to do every week.”
Browne’s effort late in the first half was his sixth goal of the season, all of which have been scored at Deepdale.
Although the Irishman is satisfied with his contribution on home territory, Browne is looking for more from himself away from home and concedes that the forward line needs to step up once more after news of Callum Robinson’s injury surfaced yesterday to add to the long injury list.
“I saw a stat at the start of the week about my home form, I just need to start picking it up away from home especially with the amount of injuries we have now so it’s time I step up and start putting in top class performance,
“We’re never going to sit back and take a point. We know we can match anyone in this division, and we’ve put results together which shows that. “
Watch more reaction from North End’s No. 8 on iFollowPNE now.