Ryan Lowe was disappointed with the lack of quality at the top end of the pitch in his side’s defeat at home to Birmingham City.
Preston North End lost for the first time this Championship season on Saturday afternoon as Maxime Colin’s 16th-minute header proved enough to earn the visitors victory.
Before that opening goal, PNE could have scored themselves, with Emil Riis seeing an effort saved one-on-one by John Ruddy, and there were other opportunities throughout the game that could have seen the home side take something from it.
The manager told iFollow PNE: “I’m obviously disappointed, especially losing at home.
“I’m disappointed with the lack of quality in the final third today. I thought we had some great attempts and possibly should be finishing them off which we know.
“But in saying that, once we go a goal behind, Birmingham are then hard to beat. I was there watching them on Tuesday night against Norwich.
“Norwich found that way, we just didn’t find that way today. We didn’t have that clinical edge.
“So I’m disappointed to lose the clean sheet record in terms of the goal. We said to send the players outside and we didn’t. He came in and got a good cross in, and then we leave someone unattached round the back post which is disappointing because we’ve been immensely solid in them situations.”
PNE did think they’d found an equaliser in the second half, as Spurs loanee Troy Parrott dispossessed a defender inside the box before finding the bottom corner.
However, referee James Bell blew for a Birmingham City free-kick for a foul on the visiting man, and Ryan – who was shown a red card after the game – felt some decisions went against his side throughout the match.
Firstly talking about Troy’s disallowed goal, Ryan said: “I don’t know what was up with it. I’ll have to have a look at it back and analyse it.
“I just said to the ref in there I felt the goal should have stood. They didn’t know if it was a pull or a push so I don’t know myself, but they should know. It’s their decision; it’s not my job.
“We should have had a free-kick on the edge of the box which we never got which we’re disappointed about.
“I’m disappointed with loads of stuff in terms of the performance and why he chose to show me a red card. I don’t think the performance was good enough by the referee.”
For the first time this season, PNE now have a full week without a fixture, following a relentless month of games every few days.
Next up is a trip to Bristol City on Saturday, who this afternoon came out 3-2 winners down the road at Ewood Park.
Asked if the break comes at a good time for his team, Ryan said: “It does. We’ll get the lads rested and recovered, because there were one or two tired legs out there, and we’ll have to put a game plan together for Bristol city away next week who are in good form as well.
“We know what we’ve got to do when you lose a game of football. It’s how you get back on that bike and get riding again, and that’ll certainly be our aim next week to put everything into fruition to go and get a result.”
Watch the manager's full interview on iFollow PNE above.