Ben Whiteman admitted PNE’s defeat against Blackpool was a “really bitter one to take”.
North End went to Bloomfield Road for the first time since 2009 for the West Lancashire derby, but goals from Keshi Anderson and Gary Madine saw the home side take the three points.
Arguably the Lilywhites’ best chance of the afternoon fell to the midfielder himself when the score was at 1-0, but he couldn’t find the target from just inside the 18-yard box.
Speaking to iFollow after the game, Ben said: “It was obviously a really disappointing result. In the first half it was a poor goal to concede.
“I thought we started the second half really well, obviously I had that great chance and missed it. I thought we were on top for 15 or 20 minutes, we tried to change it a little bit and then they get a goal again which sort of kills the game really so it’s obviously really disappointing.
“It’s a really bitter one to take at the minute. It’s really fresh and obviously we feel for our supporters.
“It’s not good enough, we know that as players, and now we need to find a way to get back up and go again really. Like I said it’s still really fresh and it’s a down camp at the minute.”
With the rivalry between the two sides, it was a game which seemed to have a long build-up to it given the excitement around the return of the fixture, and that made the defeat even harder to take.
Ben admitted the performance wasn’t good enough, and the team will work hard to put things right in the coming games.
Speaking about the mood in the dressing room after the game, Ben said: “It’s not been a quiet one. There have been a few home truths that have been said and everyone has been bang on so it’s all about how we react now.
“It’s about helping each other and digging each other out when times are getting tough.
“Things aren’t going too well at the minute in terms of on the pitch so it’s now about going in the next day, training well and hopefully get a positive result in the next one.”
Ben’s full interview with iFollow PNE is available to watch at the top of the page.