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Narcis Pelach makes 'not happy' admission as Stoke City slug out draw with Preston
Narcis Pelach admits he wasn't happy with Stoke City's lack of energy and movement in a goalless draw at home with Preston North End - but took heart from the fact that his side has now lost just one game in 10.
Chances were few and far between on a cold night at the bet365 Stadium, with Milutin Osmajic having the best opportunity for the visitors when he fluffed from close range while Wouter Burger hit the post at a corner for the hosts. Stoke played the final few minutes against 10 men after keeper Freddie Woodman was shown a red card for deliberate handball outside his box but couldn't keep the ball in play long enough, let alone in a dangerous area, to make that count.
Pelach said: "Yeah, it was tough. Tough opponent, tough game, it didn't go the way we wanted. Sloppy. We didn't lead the options as we would like in attack, we never found the rhythm that we wanted nor the pace we want to play with. It's unusual because at home I think we have always been very energetic, very fast play, a lot of movement without the ball. We lacked that today. They tried to slow it down from the beginning. They are one of the teams in the Championship with lowest ball in play so they try to make it slow. We knew that but then when we had the chance to speed up, we didn't do it.
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"At least, if you don't win, don't lose. That's something that happens a lot. A performance like this away from home, you lose the game zero-one and you are like, 'What have we done here?' At least we were competitive enough to stay in it. We defended lots of corners against an experienced side.
"I think Stoke City lost a similar game (to Preston) last season. At least we got the point. I'm not happy with the performance overall offensively but we move forward to the next one."
Pelach tried to change the game with five second-half substitutions but Preston have now played out four goalless draws already this season.
He said: "We tried to spark the team, create a little bit more accuracy and movement and freshness. To be honest, we improved a little bit but not that much. We never found a rhythm.
"This is what you get in the Championship and it's important to keep not losing. It's five unbeaten now, one defeat in 10. We couldn't win but we didn't lose. That's not me trying to be positive but being realistic in the league that we're in. I'm not happy with our performance but we have another different game on Saturday (at home against Burnley) and we will try to improve our level."
