Paul Heckingbottom pre-Middlesbrough press conference

Lancashire Post

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00:00And Borough have been good value then for four wins or what you've seen?

00:04Yeah, but in a different way. They've played good teams.

00:07I think they would say it's our way at Millwall.

00:10I thought Millwall were excellent in the first half, really got about them.

00:14Rob made changes at half-time, a couple of tactical changes.

00:18And then after the first goal really I thought Borough were fantastic.

00:25But Millwall had some really good chances in that game.

00:28I'd be wondering, was it a 3-0 game? Probably not.

00:31But Borough did flex the muscles and show the quality, certainly when they went in front.

00:36Sheffield United, I thought Borough were very good.

00:38But Sheffield United were pretty easy to play against.

00:40And then second half, Sheffield United locked the ball, kept pushing, pushing.

00:44But I still felt that Borough had another gear if they needed it.

00:51Norwich played well against Borough and it was a tough game.

00:54But when you're back to how to win games and the importance of every aspect of your game.

00:59Borough pinched two balls back really high and broke and scored two goals in a short space of time and the game was gone.

01:06So they've shown all different aspects of the game.

01:11Digging in, showing how willing they are to defend against Millwall and showing the quality.

01:16The high regains, the clinical against Norwich.

01:20Listen, it's no fluke, it's hard work winning games and four in a row, first four games.

01:28We know we're up against a good side.

01:30At least in the home games though, you're welcome.

01:32I think the atmosphere will come naturally, they've sold out.

01:35Yeah, I've heard they've sold out and generally it's good.

01:39And generally our fans perform really well and respond to that, which is always great.

01:44And in my time here, I think I'm speaking as a fan, not just the manager of the team,

01:50but I think speaking as a fan, I think any Preston fan, when I'm speaking to them,

01:54always enjoy these days and actually welcome the away end being full and having that atmosphere,

02:00they know they're coming to a good game.

02:02Yeah. How often do you get to speak to them? Just go in and out?

02:06In and out, generally, because obviously we're away.

02:09If any show, there's one or two fans waiting at the gates and that when we come out sometimes.

02:14But generally it's match days, yeah.

02:16And again, it shows the support because I get there very early and there's always some fans there

02:21and I generally leave very late and there's still always some fans there.

02:24So, yeah, it's always welcome from our end, the support.

02:28But like I said, I think there is an extra bit of pride in the fans when the away end sells out

02:36and I think they respond to that.

02:39How's Alfie doing?

02:40Fitness-wise?

02:41Yeah, he's been training, he's fine, yeah.

02:44Like I said, we knew it was only minor and it was unfortunate they missed the last game,

02:48but I think similar to Lewis when you said when you're taking lone plays a bit late,

02:53it was maybe not the pre-season that we've had.

02:55We tried to be very careful with Alfie and introduce him slowly,

02:59but he was still involved in lots of games.

03:01So it's only natural, I think, that at some point we'd have to take the foot off the gas with him

03:06and yeah, but he's been fine, he's been training.

03:09Any progress with Potts, Brady, Keane, Thompson?

03:11Yeah, all progressing well, one or two seeing specialists and making sure they can get the next stage of the rehab

03:21or integrate back in training with us, probably with Potts next, fingers crossed.

03:26So, yeah, all progressing, like I say, back to the point before.

03:33They're not going to be the next couple of games though, merely hopefully.

03:40And touch wood, we keep an injury-free squad from this weekend,

03:45because like I said, it's going to be good to get that bench really loaded

03:48and now we can capitalise on the work we've been doing.

03:51What did Keane do again? He's the one that people are a bit...

03:54Calf.

03:55In a warm-up?

03:56Well, yeah, he was warm-up, he was at the Bolton game.

03:58Right, and he's way off.

04:00Yeah, he's not training, so we're not...

04:02And like I said, when you're getting these niggles, consistent niggles,

04:06I think it's important that we get to the bottom of it, do you know what I mean?

04:09And make sure that when he comes back that he's fit enough and strong enough to stay fit and participate.

04:18Because, yeah, it's been a frustrating one for Keaneau, coming back from the back end of last season,

04:23joining in pre-season, but just not getting to that level where we can keep pushing

04:29and he can play to the level that he wants to do.

04:31Because his pre-season was stopped starting because of little niggles,

04:34and it's only fair and right for him, for us, that we're getting to the point where we can use him all the time.

04:40Let's go.

04:41Let's go.

04:42Let's go.

04:43Let's go.

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