Liam Lindsay felt PNE were “top drawer” in the first hour of the defeat to Chelsea, but were eventually undone by the quality of their hosts.
North End travelled to Stamford Bridge backed by 6,000 supporters for the third round of the Emirates FA Cup.
PNE were set up to be solid against their Premier League hosts but also to get right in their faces, and the first 45 minutes were far from comfortable for Mauricio Pochettino’s side.
They broke the deadlock just short of the hour mark, though, and went on to add three more before time was up.
Liam said: “I think if you watch the first half I thought we were top drawer really. We had a good defensive shape and we had a few chances.
“They had a good one to be fair one-on-one but I think that was all they had, but we had a good couple of chances.
“We could have nicked a goal. The second half we started okay for 15 minutes and then [conceded] a couple of soft goals.
“That allows them to get in their flow. If you give players like that time and space they get in their flow and they’re world class, aren’t they? They get going and they punish you.”
While happy with the performance in the first half, which saw chances fall to striking duo Milutin Osmajić and Will Keane, the defender was frustrated with how the game changed in the second.
He said: “Obviously we had to be solid and cautious but there was no point coming just to sit back the whole time.
“We had triggers to go and try create chances, and I thought we did that in the first half.
“Football’s 90 minutes. The first half was great and everything but football’s 90 minutes. If we can do that for 90 minutes against Bristol City, it’ll be a good day.”
Liam’s start at Stamford Bridge was his 26th consecutive appearance in defence for North End, and on paper his toughest challenge yet.
The Scot admitted that, despite the disappointment of the scoreline and defeat, he enjoyed putting himself up against some of the world’s best.
There was plenty of enjoyment in the away end, too, with 6,000 PNE fans in fine voice all evening.
“I enjoyed it, I think everyone did,” Liam said. “Fair play to the fans as well at the end because they were singing their heart out there and it was good to watch.
“Sorry we couldn’t get a result but I think the first-half performance hopefully made them a little bit happy.
“Even when we did go down I still heard them and, like I said, at the end of the game they were top class.
“We need them this season so hopefully they’re in top voice against Bristol City, which I’m sure they will be.”