Irvine: No complaints about draw

01 November 2009 10:46
The point lifted North End to eighth spot in the Championship, but they have now gone four games at Deepdale without a win.[LNB]Irvine said: "Stats are great, but you have to look a bit deeper than say that's four without a win. We could turn that around.[LNB]"I think we have to bear in mind two of the teams were West Brom and Middlesbrough, both of whom came down from the Premiership and kept their squads intact.[LNB]"I think a draw was a fair result. I don't think we really deserved to win. I don't think either team did enough to deserve winning the game though.[LNB]"Obviously I am disappointed, I was hoping to win. It isn't like the Middlesbrough game a week ago where you think it's terrific we managed to get a point in the death."[LNB]Irvine was not troubled over a possible second-half penalty for his side when the referee pointed to the spot, only to realise the linesman had already flagged for offside.[LNB]Irvine said: "I looked at the linesman fairly early and didn't get too excited when I saw his flag.[LNB]"There were contrasting systems of play in the game. There were times when Palace's system was dominating. I thought in the second half ours got on top of theirs.[LNB]"We started the game okay, then probably towards half-time they got up a little bit of momentum. We didn't clear the ball."[LNB]Preston had taken a 35th-minute lead thanks to a swerving Ross Wallace 20-yard free-kick that beat a six-man Palace wall on its way past the keeper.[LNB]That was cancelled out two minutes later as Darren Ambrose turned sharply just inside the 18 yard area and fired a cracking shot into goal. Keeper Andy Lonergan got a hand to the ball, but it was unstoppable.[LNB]That gave Ambrose his eighth goal of the season in league and cup games.[LNB]Irvine, a one-time Crystal Palace player, said of the goals: "From a spectator's point of view, they were both very good goals. I felt that theirs could have been prevented.[LNB]"It was something we highlighted as a threat in our preparations during the week."[LNB]Richard Chaplow had a golden opportunity to wrap things up for Preston six minutes from normal time, but his shot drifted a yard wide, following Wallace's cross.[LNB]The Preston boss added: "I expected them to at least work the goalkeeper in that goal move. He is a good finisher.[LNB]"I was surprised he missed the target. It was our best move of the game and would have been a terrific goal if we had got it."[LNB]Palace have now gone four games without a win, but have suffered just one defeat in eight matches.[LNB]Eagles manager Neil Warnock admitted: "I love coming to Preston, especially when we get a result.[LNB]"We are not on a bad run. I can't fault the lads. The manager can only ask the team to give everything and they do give everything.[LNB]"The game was a bit scrappy. I felt we started really well. There were some good performances in that first 15 minutes.[LNB]"We lack a little bit of quality up there, but we are trying hard in difficult circumstances.[LNB]"I thought Preston troubled us at set pieces in that first half an hour, but I think we did very well.[LNB]"The ref gave a penalty. It's the kind of penalty you get against you at Preston that you don't get against you at Palace. I think it was harsh, he was pushed in the back.[LNB]"Fortunately for us the linesman saw the offside and he told him straight away. At first I just thought he had flagged for the penalty.[LNB]"They were decent today, the linesmen, spot-on."[LNB]Warnock acknowledged that Ambrose had delivered a fantastic goal to put them back into the game.[LNB]He said: "He's just improving every week - he's a bit like old wine. He plays with a smile on his face.[LNB]"I have a joke with him while he is playing, there is a good rapport.[LNB]"He has the freedom to shoot when he wants. He's quite capable of shooting from anywhere. He very rarely gives the ball away.[LNB]"We have not got a 20 or 25 goal player. It is hard coming to Preston, they bully you at times and you have to compete.[LNB]"Alan has done a great job here. The trouble for Alan is that he does so well that expectations rise every time."[LNB][LNB][LNB]

Source: Team_Talk