Alan Browne admitted to having mixed emotions after Preston North End’s fine performance at Elland Road was rewarded with only a point, having led for much of the game before Stuart Dallas scored a last-ditch equaliser to salvage a 1-1 draw.
The Irishman opened the scoring himself midway through the first half, completing a fine team move on the counter attack with a left-footed finish which arrowed into the bottom corner – fully merited for a dominant first half performance from the Lilywhites.
There was a spell of pressure from the hosts after the break which eventually led to their equaliser and while disappointed to concede so late on, North End’s No.8 told iFollow PNE after the game there couldn’t be too much disappointment with taking a point from the Championship’s second-placed side.
“I think it’s mixed emotions really,” he said. “Coming away to Elland Road, beforehand, you’d probably take a draw, it’s a good result for any side especially with the form they’re in and the type of side they are.
“I think we had enough chances to win the game but credit to them, second half, they came at us and there was always going to be a spell where they put us under pressure and I thought we dealt with it and they got a bit of fortune with the goal, but you could probably argue that it was coming. All in all, I don’t think it’s a bad point.
“I think that was our game plan; to get on top of them. We knew the crowd would get on our backs but you don’t play up to that, you play your own game. I think the first 45 minutes we dominated the game and got our goal.
“From there, we probably could have put it to bed but they had a great spell where they put us under a lot of pressure and maybe in the end deserved their goal.”
It was Browne’s goal that saw the Lilywhites take the lead, but he reserved praise for his compatriot Sean Maguire, as it was the fellow Irishman who won the ball back with a brilliant challenge in the build-up to the goal.
“It was unbelievable from Seani – it was kind of roles reversed for the two of us! It was a fantastic tackle and from there it was a great set from Barky. I just thought I’d get the ball out of my feet and shoot and that’s what I did and fortunately I got the goal.
“I think it’s a fantastic team goal. The desire from Seani to get back and win the tackle, then obviously the vision from [Ben Pearson] Pearo to see [Tom Barkhuizen] Barky. From there, it’s a great little lay off to me and a good finish. I would say a great team goal.”
With back-to-back league games coming up at Deepdale, as well as another home game directly after with the visit of Norwich City to PR1 in the FA Cup third round, Browne is now hoping North End can build on their point with some positive results on home soil.
“It’s still a good point, it’s a tough place to come, the crowd gets on your back and they’ve got some quality players and the intensity which they play at is probably similar to us and they are where they are in the league for a reason.
“It’s a good point and hopefully we can build on that now and take advantage in the coming games.
“I think it’s all about recovering now and trying to prepare as best we can for the next game and the one after that.
“It’s a relentless league and everyone has to deal with that. We just have to have everybody ready and everybody fit and hopefully that will keep us going through this period.”
Watch more from Browney now by viewing the full interview on iFollow PNE.