Preston's Heckingbottom post 3-0 FA Cup quarter-final defeat to Aston Villa

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Preston manager Paul Heckingbottom reacts to their 3-0 FA Cup quarter-final defeat to Aston Villa Deepdale, Preston, UK

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00:00Hi, Paul. Obviously, particularly the first half, your team competed really well.

00:05How do you review the game and the players' performance on the occasion?

00:08Yes, I felt that five-minute spell took the game away from us,

00:11bang, bang, and the game's gone. Until then, yes, pleased.

00:16I felt we had the best chance until then.

00:18We knew that we'd have to be really good without the ball and try and limit where we let Villa play,

00:22and I felt we did that.

00:24Yes, you can't hide your disappointment.

00:27I can't sit here and say I'm not disappointed because of the occasion and the prize,

00:31and the players will feel the same, but I'm proud of everyone connected with the club today.

00:37The full house here, the fact we're at the FA Cup quarter-final for the first time in so long,

00:41it's down to the players and the effort for this season.

00:44I'm upset the players who couldn't be involved today, obviously for different reasons,

00:48but we'll quickly have to shake that off now and get ready for Wednesday.

00:51Does it, in a way, strengthen a bond between the team and the supporters?

00:56Yes, I think I said when I came in earlier on this season,

01:00there was certainly negativity around the place for different reasons,

01:04and one of the things we wanted was to get that connection back with the players and the fans.

01:08Now, two things.

01:10All the fans want to see is the players giving everything and really committed,

01:14and they've certainly got that.

01:15What a fantastic group of players in that respect, fantastic to work with.

01:20And then the results and the style of play which the fans can connect to,

01:23and they've had that as well, particularly at home, the results have been good.

01:27And then, flip that the other way, then you get the support,

01:29and we want the support from the players to help us get over the line in games as well.

01:32So, yes, it certainly whets the appetite.

01:35I'd love to see a deep day like that more often, because then it shows you've been getting results.

01:41Is there a feeling from the players that we're unable to play today?

01:47Yes, there will be. I spoke to them all individually yesterday,

01:49and I still wanted them to feel a part of it.

01:52They're all in there, in the dressing room, and as they deserve to be.

01:56It's all for different reasons, whether it's injury, suspension, being ineligible.

02:02But they've all played their part in us getting here, which is great.

02:04And, like I said, they're all going to have to play their part in the last eight games now.

02:08So, yes, it's certainly a group ethic, and you know that.

02:13We've been saying that all along, and it would have been a tough game with everyone available today.

02:17We're under no illusions there.

02:21And it's not an excuse, because you still feel the same way,

02:23whether you get beat, whichever team you're putting out, you still feel disappointed.

02:27No, we all know how to get the two young lads on at the end.

02:30That's it, there's disappointment for others, whether it's Freddy being out now.

02:35Obviously, he's played a huge part in us getting here,

02:37and then he's missed a big game in the rest of the season.

02:39Now it's an opportunity for Dai, the four boys on the bench who are all looking to make the debut.

02:45Theo Carroll gets on, and it's a day he'll never forget either.

02:47So, yes, they're not the positives that we wanted to be taking from today, that's a fact.

02:51But, yes, it'll be a good day for Theo and for Dai going forward.

02:56Now we get a good look at him.

02:59He'll be out for the season now, yes.

03:02All good?

03:12Yes, we knew.

03:13I thought, like I said, it's funny.

03:15We limited the spaces that we gave Villa to play in the first half.

03:20You can see that dangerous pause in the box, which we defended,

03:24but most of the efforts were from distance.

03:26Second half, we played the game.

03:27We wanted to play the game in the half more.

03:29What have we got to lose?

03:31But with that, then comes the space behind, and you can see how quickly they broke down the left.

03:34And, like I said, within a couple of passes, it's in the back of your net.

03:38But that's the difference, it's cat and mouse.

03:42So, yes, you always know when you open up, or when you are trying to be dangerous at the other end,

03:46that a player like Marcus, and how he plays the game, and the quality that Villa possess,

03:51that's probably the areas that we're looking to exploit.

03:55Yes, cheers, guys.

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