'It's difficult' - Preston boss Paul Heckingbottom pinpoints reality of Sheffield Wednesday's problems
Preston North End made light work of Sheffield Wednesday at Deepdale on Thursday afternoon, winning 3-0.
Preston North End manager Paul Heckingbottom was confident his side would have enough to get the better of Sheffield Wednesday if they successfully came through the first 30 minutes unscathed.
The North End boss made the admission after his side made light work of the Owls at Deepdale on New Year’s Day, winning 3-0. They got the job done via goals from Ali McCann, Milutin Osmajić and substitute Lewis Dobbin.
To Wednesday’s credit, they started the contest reasonably well, attempting to take the game to the opposition. However, McCann’s opener, which arrived after 28 minutes, knocked the stuffing out of them and North End were in charge from that moment onwards.
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Amid the depleted nature of the squad, Wednesday, naturally, are suffering from fatigue much quicker than others in the division, not least because this was their third game in just seven days.
Having seen what Wednesday can do when they are allowed to make a fast start at Hillsborough at the end of November, a contest his side eventually won 3-2, Heckingbottom knew the opening half hour would be key to determining the outcome.
"We talk about this league a lot, and you can't let it frustrate you because so many times performances don't align with results," said Heckingbottom.
"So you have to focus on what you want to do, the key moments in games. But today I felt the performance did align with the result.
Heckingbottom shares honest Wednesday assessment
"I've seen so much of Wednesday this season for lots of different reasons, and in every game they've been dangerous, regardless of the result.
"Particularly in the first 30 minutes when they have a real go, they can cause carnage. Whether that's been away at Ipswich, at home to Hull, when we played them away at Hillsborough.
"And in the circumstances they find themselves in, whether that's depth of squad, injuries, it's difficult for them to maintain that.
"But I felt, today, at no point did we give them any hope or any opportunities to get that foothold in the game and become dangerous. I thought it was a really strong performance."