Preston boss Graham Westley spoke to his club's official website after his side's 0-0 League One draw against Carlisle at Brunton Park, Westley describing North End's performance as a creditable one on the whole :
"It was a point hard earned, we showed a lot of grit and a lot determination, a desire to go on and win the game and it was a creditable performance on the whole. We have kept another clean sheet which is positive and we could have easily won the game. We created our moments, we were well organised, our work rate was good, and as the game went on we looked as likely to win it as they did and we have had the best chances in the game for sure.
"It was never going to be an easy game here, they are fighting for a play-off spot and they are right on the cusp of it. It was always going to be a tough game and a partisan home crowd, always likely to draw a decision or two out of the situation. With the young players, who acquitted themselves brilliantly well on the whole, with the injuries that we took at the weekend and the changes we had to make to the team, the side had to work with a tremendous spirit, good organisation and real desire.
"I thought they did, I think they definitely earned and deserved the point that they got, and could easily have got more with a little bit more fortune in the second-half. There were three moments that stand out, (Graham) Cummins will be gutted that didn't he score, (Chris) Holroyd had a great effort and the keeper (Adam Collin) has done very well. The set-piece was almost perfect, we had spotted their weakness, designed one to suit, and gutted to not to see it hit the back of the net.
"Stucks (Thorsten Stuckmann) has done his work at the other end, he was called upon, he was his usual self. He has stuck the play on the front foot, swept up behind the back line and came out and did exceptionally well to cover behind the defence, in one situation in particular, and he made a good save away to his left in the second-half. He has developed in the short time I have been here and he is far more prepared to dominate his six yard box and he is very prepared to play on the front foot and support his back line.
"I like to see that in my defence, I like to see my defence play on the front foot with the goalkeeper prepared to defend from behind. His voice is developing and his shot stopping skills are exceptional, he was very good. But I don't think we should be looking at the goalkeeper as the man of the match because that will imply that Carlisle were putting us under piles of pressure and he had tonnes to do."
"I think in my first ten games I probably wouldn't have taken Daniel Devine off in the first half but 650 later I think it was an easy change to make. A young player in a difficult situation against an experienced opponent, I would have been very surprised if (Lee) Miller hadn't managed to get him sent off after the two situations, the yellow card and then the warning, so I think it was an easy decision to make. One that I am glad I did.
"The referee (Carl Boyeson) was exceptional in the way he handled the second incident and he didn't over react. I don't think it was necessary to show a second yellow card and if you added the two situations up they didn't warrant a red card. I think under those circumstances when Lee Miller was putting himself around in midfield you could see a young player getting drawn in, and you don't want to be at Carlisle United with only ten men.
"Bailey Wright deserves to be singled out I think, a young man who has come in and played his first league football and was very solid at the weekend and tonight exceptional. He looks so composed, so assured, he is positive in his defending, he has got a great level of confidence for a young man. He has now got to build on it, he has got to make sure that he doesn't let the plaudits that he will get go to his head. But, he is not that kind of kid you know, he has got a good solid character about him and I think he is definitely a big prospect for the future.
"Going into our last two games I am sure that most Preston fans, Preston people, would have been pleased with four points. In terms of where we are at, I think there is something growing, there is a spirit evolving, there is a sense of team out on the pitch and the dressing room is disappointed that we didn't manage to convert tonight into the six points that we could have made on the road.
"But, we are progressing, we are going forward, I think anybody involved will see that, the level of quality and commitment that the team is showing bodes well. If you are going to win games and honours you have to be prepared to put one foot in front of the other and I think the players are showing that their fitness isn't at the level that I want but they are showing that they have come forward.
"The players are showing that they are prepared to give, they are showing the fans that they want to fight for points and victories and there are definitely a lot of positives you can take from tonight's game. We have had two tough games away from home, we have had a lot of travelling to do but full credit must go to the lads, I thought they were strong."