[themaclad]

Paul Heckingbottom felt his team showed two different sides to their game in the victory over Luton Town.

In his first match in charge, Preston North End claimed their first three points of the season thanks to a 1-0 victory, courtesy of a 39th-minute Will Keane strike.

There were certainly signs of what the team had been working on under the new gaffer, while PNE also had to stand firm at the back in the second half to prevent the visitors taking anything from the game.

Hecky said: “Results probably define everything, don’t they? They always do. But I think if we break the game down there’s lots of things I’m really pleased with.

“We looked to take the ball and try to pass the ball. Gradually as the first half went on, I thought we got better and better at that.

“In the second half, Luton stood against us man for man and we found it more difficult. We showed the other side to our game and defended the box and limited a good Luton team to efforts from long range, longer diagonal balls and crosses into our box which our three centre-backs and Freddie [Woodman] dealt with really well.

“I’m pleased with not just the game but the build-up to the game, the approach, and I think it would have been unjust if Luton were to sneak a goal at the end.”

Rob Edwards’ visiting side were throwing everything at North End to try and level, but PNE were holding firm, with the help of a raucous Deepdale crowd.


The fans inside the stadium got right behind the team, especially in the final stages, and the manager couldn’t help but acknowledge their support during the last ten minutes or so.

He said: “When I’m watching the game, I’m usually oblivious to everything away from the white line, but I heard them today. I think you saw me react and clap the fans. I enjoyed that.

“That’s something I really want to see. I want a connection between the fans and the players. I’ll guarantee how hard we’ll work to try and win games, and we’ll work hard during the week.

“I want the players to understand that the fans are coming to watch that and I want the fans to understand that the players are giving everything. Sometimes it won’t be enough, but then you get the other times when that’s all you need.

“We’ll keep working on the quality, we’ll keep working on how we want to play and it was a good moment that.”