Alex Neil confident of Preston’s play-off hopes

Posted Sunday, April 15, 2018 by PA

Preston manager Alex Neil believes his side are capable of securing a Championship play-off spot following their 2-1 win at QPR.

North End came from behind at Loftus Road, where Callum Robinson equalised after Matt Smith had put Rangers ahead.

Robinson claimed a second goal after appearing to touch Alan Browne’s header in at the far post, but replays suggested the ball had already crossed the line.

The victory left Preston eighth in the table, three points adrift of the top six with three matches left to play.

“We’ve got as good a chance as anybody else in that area,” Neil said.

“What we’ve got to do is focus on ourselves. Whatever happens elsewhere, if we don’t win we’re not going to get there.

“We’ve got to keep going, win our games and then we’ll see what happens.

“A lot of the teams around us have got each other to play, but we have got some points to claw back.

“We’ve managed to claw points back today and I think it makes for a really exciting end to the season. We’re up for the challenge.”

Preston struggled in the first half but Robinson’s goal a minute before the interval hauled them level and they were much-improved after the restart.

“We didn’t play well in the first half,” Neil admitted.

”Our performance was poor and I thought we were too direct, didn’t keep the ball well enough and didn’t win enough headers.

“It was all addressed at half-time. The pleasing thing was that we went in 1-1, but I wasn’t happy with how we were playing.

“Everything was better in the second half. We were braver, had more possession, created more and had more intensity.

“I thought we ran out worthy winners in the end. In the second half we were the dominant side.”

QPR manager Ian Holloway admitted his decision to make five changes backfired.

He included goalkeeper Matt Ingram as well as youngsters Ebere Eze and Bright Osayi-Samuel while resting Luke Freeman and Josh Scowen.

Holloway said: “I’m bitterly disappointed. I probably made too many changes, but I put people in to try and express themselves again.

“We couldn’t get them on the ball. But we’re here to try to move forward.

“We didn’t pass the ball well enough. Did anybody do what I really expected? No. That today was very disappointing.

“When we change too much, it’s a big ask. I tried to pick a team that would cause Preston problems but unfortunately we didn’t understand where the space was and didn’t create what we should have done.

“We went 1-0 up against the run of play and then some of the passing was not what I want. Whoever I put out there it didn’t work in the end.

“I did think Matt Ingram did well. He’s waited for his chance and I’m going to give him that chance.

“But we didn’t play well enough. Well done to Preston. It’s about learning.”