Alan Browne felt Preston North End might have left the Select Car Leasing Stadium with a different result had they taken more of their chances against Reading.
Despite late pressure and plenty of chances created, the Lilywhites were beaten 2-1 Veljko Paunović’s side, with John Swift’s goal with 20 minutes remaining proving the winner, after Daniel Johnson’s spot kick had cancelled out Femi Azeez’ first half opener.
Speaking to iFollow PNE post-match, club captain Browne admitted that the hosts had perhaps edged the opening 45 minutes, but still felt their goal had come against the run of the play.
“It was a tough one,” said the Lilywhites’ No.8.
“First half, they were probably the better side, got their goal, which kind of came against the run of play, and then second half I think we came out and we gave it a go, got the goal, which I think we more than deserved. We had plenty of other chances to get some more.”
Likewise, the skipper felt the hosts’ second was also not befitting with the pattern of play at that point in proceedings.
“I think Scotty gets fouled,” he continued, pointing to an incident where Sinclair appeared to be nudged off the ball in the build-up to Swift’s strike. “There’s still plenty of men behind the ball, we should be doing better.
“Take nothing away, it’s a great finish. We knew that coming into the game defensively it needs to be better, myself included, but I think on another day, it might be a different result. It’s all good and well saying that but it’s about doing business and we haven’t done it yet again today.”
On that second goal, he continued: “It was a bit of a killer really. I thought we were going to go on to win the game and even judging by the chances towards the end, on another day, we have two or three, but it just wasn’t to be.
“The second goal, again, it comes against the run of play. I think we dominated the second half, it’s just about putting away and taking our chances. It’s not just down to strikers, we all need to be chipping in. That’s what we need to do to start winning games.
“We need to attack together and defend together as well. There’s plenty to reflect on, it’s not the end of the world and there’s a lot of positives to take from today.”
Despite the late pressure, the Irishman felt North End needed to be more productive with their chance creation for a greater amount of the game.
“We need to start creating those chances throughout the game because if it’s the other way around, you’re saying that it’s always going to happen, you’re backs against the wall. I think it is frustrating but we need to start creating those chances and making those chances, making things happen earlier in the games.
“We can’t just be when a team has our backs against the wall, we throw players forward, we need to start the game with that aggression and desire to get in the box and get on the end of things. If we do that, we’ve got plenty in the squad who are capable of scoring goals.”
The midfielder was also disappointed not to send the travelling North End faithful home with a better result, adding that he and his team-mates are aware of the need to put some points on the board in the Championship table.
“It’s really disappointing, it’s a long road home, and it’s disappointing for the fans who made the journey here as well. They came in numbers and we’re leaving with nothing really.
“But I think to a man we left everything out there and it wasn’t to be on the day. We need to start picking up some results and points. I know it’s only two games in so it’s not as if it’s the end of the world, but the sooner we get some points on the board, the better.”
Watch more from Browney on iFollow PNE.