Alex Neil praises Preston spirit after comeback win over Leeds

Posted Wednesday, April 11, 2018 by PA

Preston manager Alex Neil hailed his side’s fighting qualities after they battled back from a goal down to beat a below-par Leeds and maintain their slim promotion hopes.

Preston left themselves with a mountain to climb as Leeds took the lead on 13 minutes when Kemar Roofe converted a Kalvin Phillips’ cross.

North End got back on level terms four minutes after the break as Paul Gallagher scored from the penalty spot after Billy Bodin was fouled in the area by Vurnon Anita.

Sean Maguire put Preston in front from a Gallagher cross just three minutes later as the game turned on its head.

Alan Browne wrapped up the win with a header eight minutes from time as Preston kept up their play-off charge.

And Neil was full of praise for Preston as they refused to throw in the towel, saying: “We are more pleased with the result as much as anything else because our last few performances have been good but we’ve not had anything to show for it. How we played doesn’t really matter, it’s about getting the points.

“I thought we were unfortunate to be behind at half-time.

“I thought we had the better chances in the first half. We were concerned it would be the same as previous games.

“We are all a bit fed up of playing well and not getting a result. I said to them they are all in the team to do certain jobs and that they needed to pull their finger out and go out and do it.

“To be fair to them that’s exactly what they did so the players deserve a lot of credit for that.

“The pleasing thing for us is that we’ve beaten our tally for last year with four games remaining.

“If it means other teams around us drop points and we get back into the race, then we will look forward to the run in.”

The win ended a run of three straight defeats for Preston and keeps them within touching distance of the play-offs with four games remaining, but Leeds manager Paul Heckingbottom was unhappy with some of referee Lee Probert’s decisions.

He said: “We started brightly in the second half but they scored from one of our attacks, we had players in decent position but Billy Bodin does a stepover and Vurnon Anita brings him down.

“There didn’t seem to be too many appeals from the lads, so giving a penalty away is a blow. The big turning point in the match is the second goal.

“Pontus Jansson was down and it got stopped for the same incident in the first half. It should have been stopped. We had a man down in the box playing them all onside and giving them a free header.

“The worst thing is how it leaves us, credit to the players who stuck at it but as it stands now that’s all we’ve got – those players are the only ones available.

“The senior players have to stand up and help the young players who made their debuts. There is a lot of responsibility on some young players who have suddenly become our senior players.

“The fans were exceptional tonight and they have to stick with these boys because they will give them everything. We’ll keep trying to improve. We have to keep working with the players.”