Ryan Lowe said he was looking for his players to find a ‘clinical touch’ following the goalless draw against Hull City at Deepdale.
In a performance that the manager otherwise felt was fantastic, the Lilywhites dominated much of the play and went close on several occasions, perhaps most notably through Troy Parrott and Alan Browne in the second half – with Robbie Brady also hitting the post.
He told iFollow PNE: “I thought the lads were fantastic, in possession, out of possession, created some fantastic opportunities. On another day, you get two goals at least. I think the chances we created, 20 chances to their four or five and one on target, we’ve had seven or eight on target, a couple of deflections.
“The one thing I’m looking for is that clinical edge and I think once we get that and once the lads find that one goal because the back’s looking fantastically solid, the openings we’re working, we worked on a lot of stuff last week for this game.
“I thought you could see it definitely did come off, crosses into the box, the balls fired across, the touches, the link-up around the edge of the box. Can we shoot a little bit more, on target, can we get more shots away? Yeah, definitely. Just a tad frustrated that we haven’t scored but everything else was fantastic.”
He continued: “We limited them to very few opportunities – they’ve done well in the transfer market and spent a lot of money. It was pleasing that we’ve limited to them. On the flip side, I’m saying, ‘Can we bit a little bit more creative, a bit better, can we take that extra pass or touch to get us up the top end of the pitch?’
“They certainly did that the second half. Troy’s in there, he’s disappointed, but I told him when I signed him he’d get loads of chances, we create chances for him to score and he will score them. I’m a big believer in him and Emil. Today it was just not quite there, that quality, but I’m sure they’ll get it.”
The gaffer is confident that the goals will come for strike duo Troy Parrott and Emil Riis.
“We’ll work with them on a daily basis, them type of finishes, but the good thing as a striker, when you’re creating chances and you get the chances, that’s a good sign. When you’re not getting chances and you’re creating any chances, that isn’t a good sign.
“I want them to be disappointed but I don’t want them to be too down, I want them to make sure that they do what’s required and eventually once one goes in, they’ll hopefully get two, three, four and they’ll get on a little wave of scoring a few goals and that’s what I want.”
On the whole the gaffer was pleased with his side’s display, and the impact of the supporters inside Deepdale.
“I’m happy with large parts of the team and the way they’re playing and the players but it’s just that last little bit which is the most important bit is the goals.
“I think it’s been a fantastic effort, for the fans as well who were with us today, the players, I thought they were outstanding, it’s just that last little bit.
“We’ve got to keep them [the fans] happy and that’s what I said to the group, that I don’t want to keep sending them home disappointed or frustrated like we are.
“I think they can see that they’re quite happy, I think the style, the brand, everything they’re doing, getting clapped off the pitch there, they know we’re trying to work hard to get these points.”
Watch more from Ryan on iFollow PNE.