Ryan Lowe praised his Preston North End side for how they performed without possession in their 1-1 draw against Burnley at Deepdale.
Taylor Harwood-Bellis headed the visitors in front inside ten minutes in PR1, but Jordan Storey levelled matters just five minutes later, and North End restricted their Lancashire counterparts to few clear chances thereafter while retaining a counter attacking threat.
Speaking after full-time, Ryan told iFollow PNE: “I think it’s a good point. My reflection of watching it from up in the sky there is we were very good without the ball today. We could have been a little bit better at the top end with the ball, which we know, be a bit braver with our passing, but I think overall against a good team, we were fantastic without the ball.
“It was a game today that we had to be solid and resolute without the ball, and we certainly were, because let’s not make no bones about it, they’ve got good footballers and good players, Burnley caused us a lot of of problems.
“We changed shape in the second half a little bit to accommodate that. Overall, to get back into it with a set piece is pleasing.
“We knew we’d have large parts without the ball, it was what we done when we were without the ball. I thought our defensive shape was solid and resolute and when we regained the ball and we wanted to press, counter-press and counter attack, we got to them areas but then they got bodies back, we didn’t get too many bodies up.
“We knew we were going to be without the ball for large parts and it’s against a good team, but for us to get back in the game so early on, we scored the goal, and towards the end a chance to try and nick it.
“The two teams were clearly throwing it all to get the win. Unfortunately, we couldn’t, and they couldn’t, and it’s a point that I’m really pleased with.”
Ryan felt Storey’s equalising goal was key in igniting his side’s response to an early setback.
“It kickstarted us a little bit,” he said of the defender’s heading. “We wanted to get out on the front foot and press.
“Ali [McCann] gets booked early doors and that sort of stops us and then we drop down a little bit deeper. To get a goal back straight after, especially Jordan [Storey], lost his man from the corner, to get us back in the game with a fantastic header was really pleasing.”
There were more than 20,000 supporters inside Deepdale, which included an away following of over 5,000 Burnley fans, for the first league encounter against Burnley at Deepdale in over six years and Ryan was once again delighted with the backing.
“Fantastic. I’ve said since I’ve been through the door, we want to fill the stadium up and we will fill it a little bit more eventually. When we start getting them wins, I’m hoping there will be more coming through the door, I really believe that.
“Saturday is going to be another important one for the fans and for the players because if truth be known, we need those fans as much as anything because they value them. Fantastic support.”
Watch more from Ryan on iFollow PNE.