Alan Irvine was bitterly disappointed that his side fell to defeat in W12 despite pegging the R`s back twice.
Rangers managed to get back infront in the 85th minute as Dexter Blackstock`s header proved to be the difference between the two sides. Irvine believes that this was not a fair reflection on proceedings.
‘We didn’t deserve to lose.” Irvine told pnefc.net
“Everybody is very disappointed in there. At half-time we couldn’t have complained if that had been the full-time score, but in the second half we could certainly complain.
‘In the first half Queens Park Rangers were the better team and I was desperate for the half-time whistle to blow.
‘I felt as though there were things we could sort out. I believe that we did from the performance of the lads in the second half. We were certainly the best team in the second half.
‘Their first goal was something we predicted. We did our video work this morning and showed them that Cook works the ball well onto his left foot, crosses early and Helguson gets in at the far post, so it wasn’t something unexpected and I believe it is something we should have defended better.’
With Preston`s recent record Irvine was confident that his side could come back from the early deficit, and this proved to be true as they twice pegged Rangers back.
He said: ‘I didn’t think it was something we couldn’t come back from. We have an excellent record of coming back from behind and we have an excellent record of scoring late goals and I felt that if we could come in 2-1 down at half-time we had every chance of certainly playing better and getting chances.
‘I think everyone who was at the game would concede that we were certainly the better team in the second half. We were very much on the front foot and dominant. We got the ball wide early and caused them a great number of problems. Most of the game was played in their half.’
Alan Wiley`s decision to hand the Lilywhites a second half penalty has been widely scrutinised, but Irvine chose to focus on his side`s build up to the incident.
He said: ‘It was good play,’
‘I haven’t seen the penalty again yet, but my first instinct was to look at the referee and of course I was delighted when I saw him point to the spot.’
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