Reflections on Preston Draw

A 1-1 draw with Preston yesterday was a disappointing result. The performance on the whole matched this disappointment as it was not one of our best, although to be honest this was kind of what I expected really...

This draw, secured in the 2nd half, could still have been a victory though but for David Cotterill's disallowed goal.

A goal - which I have not seen video footage of, just saw it as it happened - should have been allowed according to Steve Cotterill - who said that he had - with him ruing another 'rough call' for us: 'we scored a perfectly good goal. There was no way he was offside. I've looked at it three times on the recording and it`s 100 per cent a goal.

'We've been on the rough end of a couple of decisions in the last few weeks, which makes it difficult at the stage of the season we're at now.'

For a lot of the 1st half I thought we were in control without really creating anything.

Although that said we looked as though we could get caught at the back - as we were!

Being caught out with a ball over the top, or in behind us, looked like the thing that would get us and this is what happened. This is something Cotterill saw as an error, although to be honest I thought it was offside but I guess not: 'the last 15 minutes of the first half were our problem, really. We needed a bit more courage once they scored their goal. We were anxious and uptight. We needed to get on the ball and pass it, and to be sharper in our play.

'They scored when we stepped up for offside, and we never normally step up for offside. It's an error that cost us a goal.

'I thought we missed Ricardo Rocha at the back, because he`s been very, very good. I probably knew the changes I was going to make from the bench today after about 20 minutes, but you don't want to make them that early in case something goes wrong.'

The draw surely ends the play-off talk, right?

Although little changed with the way other results went really so Cotterill still thinks it is possible but we 'probably', in fact almost certainly, need to win our final 6 games and even then would it be enough?

Winning the lot is something he knows we are capable of: 'with the other results, nothing has changed too much. We're still nine points behind. Before this game I felt from the last seven games we needed six wins, or five wins and a draw.

'We're capable of going on a run, because we've done it twice already this season. We just need to do it once more.'

Even with 6 wins from 6, which is unlikely for me - but we have more chance if Rocha John Rocha, who we really missed yesterday, can stay fit and available - I cannot see us making the play-offs and to be honest I think too many of the players have already accept this?

That was on display from some I thought...

But hey ho, we and they regroup and are ready to go against Coventry on Tuesday, at least I hope so - bring on The Sky Blues!

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