LOWE ENCOURAGED BY PNE PROGRESS
UPBEAT Preston North End boss Ryan Lowe has praised his players for taking on board his ideas – and believes it’s laying the foundations for future success.
Lowe quit League One high-flyers Plymouth to take the reins at Deepdale in early December following the sacking of Frankie McAvoy.
The Lilywhites were 18th at the time and looking over their shoulders, but a run of one defeat in eight league games under Lowe had taken them to a comfortable mid-table position heading into yesterday’s game at Hull.
Philosophy
Although a push for the play-offs might be a bridge too far, Lowe is keen for Preston to keep pushing onwards and upwards this term as the players get used to his philosophy.
“Being hard to beat is one of the things we’ve harped on about with the group,” he said. “To make sure that if you don’t win, then you certainly don’t lose. If you keep the back door shut, you have got half a chance of winning any game.
“The organisation and structure and what we want to do and how we want to do it, it’s all done on the training ground. The timing of runs and passes, it’s nearly there - we’ll get it, it will come.
“We are a well organised team and the lads know their jobs. They’ve been fantastic.”
The 43-year-old Liverpudlian, who already has League Two promotions with Bury and Plymouth under his belt in his fledgling managerial career, has been encouraged by his side’s performances on their travels of late.
Impressive
They followed up an impressive 2-0 victory at West Brom with another shut-out at Millwall in midweek. It could have easily been all three points in south-east London, too, as midfielder Ben Whiteman struck the post with a second half penalty in the goalless draw.
“One loss in eight games, that’s what we want to try to do,” explained Lowe. “We want to make sure we’re taking points whether it’s at home or on the road.
“Wherever you go on the road a point’s great. If you can turn your home games into wins, it’s even better because it’s two points a game.”