Blackburn Rovers boss Jon Dahl Tomasson has suggested that Preston North End’s 2-1 win at Ewood Park was ‘cruel’.
PNE made the short trip to Blackburn on Friday night, backed by almost 6,000 travelling North Enders.
The opener was a thing of beauty; Brad Potts picked out Alan Browne with a raking cross-field ball and the PNE skipper took one deft touch before smashing home.
Rovers drew level through Sammie Szmodics and both sides then had chances to win it.
PNE found the golden chance though, as Ben Whiteman crossed for Liam Lindsay to plant home a diving header as the clock struck the 90th minute.
PNE fans were sent into absolute delirium but Rovers seemingly feel a little aggrieved…
Jon Dahl Tomasson curses ‘cruel’ Preston North End win
Rovers boss Jon Dahl Tomasson has spoken to the club’s official website and almost appeared to dismiss PNE’s performance.
Tomasson suggested that North End were just ‘kicking long passes’ and focusing on set plays and counter-attacks.
The Dane noted that PNE were ‘playing physically’ and Rovers losing proved how ‘football can be cruel’.
Tomasson feels that Rovers didn’t really deal with PNE’s goals well enough but was happy with how his side created chances.
“We’re extremely disappointed to lose the game,” said Tomasson. “If you look at the overall performance, we shouldn’t have lost it. We created plenty of opportunities to win the game. Football can be cruel. We probably didn’t deal with the two moments they scored from well enough.”
“They were playing physically, kicking long passes, getting set plays and having transition moments. We didn’t deal with those moments well enough and they cost us two goals.”
“Still, if you look at the chances, this team did a lot of good things, we played with a great attitude and created the chances to win the game. It’s disappointing to lose a local derby in front of more than 20,000 fans at Ewood.”
“We are creating a lot and we’re the team in the league that’s creating the biggest chances in the league. I’d like us to deal with the situations better where we give goals away,” he added.
Rovers played the more aesthetically pleasing football but North End had a gameplay here.
Tomasson fielded a fairly young side; four starters aged 21 or younger and just two players over the age of 27 in the starting XI.
PNE had bags of experience on the pitch – Freddie Woodman, Jordan Storey, Liam Lindsay, Brad Potts, Alan Browne, Ben Whiteman, Will Keane, Duane Holmes, players with plenty of Championship appearances under their belts.
That experience told in the end as PNE managed the game and found a winner at the death.
PNE will probably play better football in games between now and the summer but no North End fans will be unhappy with the style of play after a dramatic derby day win.