Coventry City defender Luis Binks has admitted that Preston North End’s pressing was ‘difficult’ to play against.
PNE blew Coventry away on Friday night.
Emil Riis set the tone with a first-minute opener before setting up Will Keane for number two.
Riis then crossed in for Bobby Thomas to score an own goal, leaving PNE 3-0 up by half-time.
North End saw out the game with real confidence and have now made it four wins in the last five Championship games.
Luis Binks reacts to PNE victory
Coventry were on the back foot immediately and just couldn’t get going.
Much of that is because of PNE’s brilliance, especially in the first half.
North End were aggressive, front-footed and pressed brilliantly to leave Coventry reeling.
That pressing – or rather counter-pressing – was on show for Keane’s goal as Riis pinched possession back inside the Coventry penalty area.
Jay Dasilva just couldn’t handle Riis and Keane was able to slot home, putting PNE 2-0 up inside 20 minutes.
Sky Blues defender Luis Binks has now told the club’s official website that Coventry just couldn’t deal with North End.
Binks felt that Coventry made North End look like a proven Championship side, with PNE ‘first to every ball’.
Binks added that North End’s pressing ability made it ‘difficult’ to play out from the back, with Coventry just sinking against PNE.
“You cannot hide the fact, everyone saw we were not at it today. We did not start well enough. They are an experienced side and we made them look like that. They were first to every ball and there is no hiding from the fact we were not at it. It is tough to do this (interview) because what can I say? Everyone knows it, everyone saw it. We just were not at our level.”
“They came with a press and it was difficult to play out. But we cannot just use that as an excuse. We have got to go find a way. We had a chance to clear it but we did not. After two (goals) I did not think the game is done there. You can go two ways and we went under,” he added.
North End fans have wanted high pressing and a front-footed approach all season and we are now seeing it.
The return of Riis has certainly helped and PNE are causing real problems for teams who have play-off aspirations like Coventry.
The challenge is for PNE to keep this form going but few Championship sides will fancy playing North End in his form right now.