Preston boss Ryan Lowe said he believes Town’s squad is ready for the Championship season now whereas his own is currently “a bit jaded”, following the Blues’ 2-1 victory at Deepdale last night.

Conor Chaplin and George Hirst netted the goals as Town recorded an impressive win over the Lancastrians, who finished 12th in the second tier last season having been in play-off contention for much of the year, their eighth campaign at that level.

“Second half was a lot better,” Lowe told LancsLive. “First half, I thought we were a bit jaded in everything we did. I thought they were good first half - movement, that is what you're going to come up against, playing a good team who did fantastic in League One. It was a good test for us and that's why I wanted it.

“I thought the two goals were not great on our behalf, but when you concede goals like that - they are avoidable and we can look back at them.

“There are no points at stake, which is a bonus, but we need to be a little bit better. I thought there were some good moments.

“After 20 minutes we got the press right and stopped them playing out. We then had a bit of joy at stopping them, but it fizzled out at the top end and we weren't clinical enough.

“Overall, the test was what we wanted. We didn't want to concede two goals and we wanted to score more goals, but it wasn't to be. So, first half not great and second half a lot better, because we asked for more.”

Regarding Town, the former Plymouth boss added: “Yeah, they've got a good squad. Their squad is ready now; ours is not.

“We've got four or five lads on their way back - potentially one or two more. So, we're a bit jaded in that sense.

“We're relying on the youngsters, who've been excellent by the way - bringing more energy to the team when they come on and taking instructions on very well.

“So, pre-season is nowhere near where we'd like to be just yet. We might look at changing the week up next week, because we feel it is important to get more coaching into the players.

“We will sit down and talk about that but in terms of the minutes, I am just hoping to get through pre-season with everyone fit and available. That is our aim. We don't like losing, but the result is irrelevant really - it is all about getting them ready for Bristol City.”

Photo: Matchday Images

ArnieM added 10:31 - Jul 20 Full of excuses isn’t he. Hd blew them out of the water in that first half … and it wasn’t our best 11 combination either.
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trncbluearmy added 10:47 - Jul 20 Nahhhh,just met a team that's gonna blow this league apart COYB
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Orraman added 10:52 - Jul 20 Pre season results mean nothing in themselves but what we have seen so far is that a pre season programme has been expertly constructed to enable us to start the real season ready to go. When you compare Ryan Lowe’s post match interview with Kieran’s the difference in preparation in the lead up is quite astonishing. So much professional and meticulous planning must give us hope for some excitement ahead.

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Europablue added 11:42 - Jul 20 It is much harder to prepare a club for the league above than to make incremental improvements in the same league, so if anyone should be making excuses, it should be us, but we don't need to thanks to KM!
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Monkey_Blue added 12:08 - Jul 20 The season we won the last 2nd division championship our preseason results and performances were not great at all…. But that’s a survey of one. Winning is never a bad thing but it’s how we played that’s impressive. I don’t think anyone can know how we’ll cope this season but I’d rather have the positive signs and noises than negative ones. What’s clear is right or wrong McKenna seems to know what he’s doing… #COYB

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Bazza8564 added 15:50 - Jul 20 Orraman you have it spot on! KM is quality who learned from the best. The fact that he is showing those organisational qualities now should be no surprise. I fully expect there to be one or two more incoming and enough strength and professionalism to have a real dart at it this season
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Bergholtblue added 16:57 - Jul 20 I'm confident of a successful campaign this season, but success is a double edged sword. The more successful we are, the more McKenna comes to the attention of other clubs. Money talks, so could he be tempted away should a struggling Everton or Wet spam come calling. I would like to think not. Success for me this season would simply to finish above those webbed footed, six-fingered, inbreds from up the road.

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Julesblueblood added 17:42 - Jul 20 Shake some more salt on them chips Lowe , both goals were class , also we made 12 changes in total second half and had 4 players out ...
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