Ben Whiteman felt Preston North End were the better team as the home side were held to a goalless draw against Nottingham Forest.
Far from a typical stalemate, North End enjoyed the better chances in what was an entertaining fixture, with Cameron Archer arguably having the best opportunity of the game in the second half.
Ultimately the goal to break the deadlock didn’t come for the Lilywhites against a Forest side sat two points above them in the Championship table.
Ben told iFollow PNE: “They’re a good side but we are as well, and I thought we were the better team tonight.
“If we take our chances we get the three points. I can’t remember them really having any clearcut chances apart from the penalty shout [in the first half], but other than that we were the better team.
“We’re getting into the right areas it’s just about finishing it off. I’m sure we’ll do that, we’ve been on a good run bar Reading, but I think the performance was very encouraging tonight.”
Forest are a side who have only suffered three defeats since October and are going well in the Championship, but at Deepdale they were limited to very little.
It was just the two shots on target for Steve Cooper’s men, as North End shut out their opposition and got on the front foot themselves.
Ben added: “We take massive amounts of confidence, but we know how good we are.
“When it works we know we’re a very good team and we’re more than a match of anyone in the division, but it’s about that consistency now.
“We’ve put that game against Reading behind us and it was a massively encouraging performance tonight.
“It might not be the win, but the performance was there.”
Liam Lindsay was one of two changes from the weekend’s defeat, starting at the left of a back three, before having to move into a central role after Patrick Bauer was forced off with injury.
He helped PNE to a sixth clean sheet in eight games, in what was his first start for the club since the draw against Millwall at the start of the month.
“He was outstanding,” said Ben. “Every time he’s come in Liam’s been different class.
“He trains hard, works hard, and as soon as he’s called upon he always puts in a very good performance so I bet he’s happy.”
Watch Ben's full interview above on iFollow PNE.