Gallagher hurt by PNE defeat

PNE were beaten 5-0 by the Cottagers in a behind-closed doors game on Tuesday.

Although pre-season results mean little, midfielder Gallagher admitted the loss had hurt and plenty could be learned from it.

The Lilywhites are away in Ireland until Friday, with the squad staying at the Fota Island complex near Cork.

Gallagher told the Evening Post: “The result the other day wasn’t good.

“We play Fulham in our first home league game of the season and can use the friendly defeat in the right way to try and help us win that one.

“Even though it was only a friendly, it still hurt – I hate losing a five-a-side game in training, let alone a match against another club.

“The performance wasn’t good enough and we are not going to make excuses, we will learn from it.

“What we can take from it is that it was another 30-60 minutes in the tank for a lot of the lads.

“With every game we play and training session we do, we will get sharper.

“In the friendlies we are building partnerships, getting to know the new lads and looking at different formations.”

Gallagher has got through the first two weeks of training without any ill-effects following surgery in May to repair a long-standing hernia.

He has featured in all three friendlies to date, the Fulham game having been preceded by 2-1 wins over Bamber Bridge and Chorley.

Said Gallagher: “I’ve done every training session, I feel good and fit.

“I quite enjoy pre-season, I like putting in the different kind of work which you do.

“As well as the work on the pitch, we’ve been on the bikes over here to get that extra strength in the legs.

“We had a long bike ride around the complex yesterday, it is an extra aspect to the training.

“Being away together as a squad is beneficial, there are more sessions and the chance to recover properly in between each one.

“Most clubs go away for a few days at some point in pre-season.

“A couple of years ago when I came to Preston on loan, it was probably the only time when I hadn’t gone away.

“Last year we had a few days in Scotland and this time it’s Ireland.

“The new lads – Ben Pringle, Simon Makienok, Tommy Spurr and Chris Maxwell – have settled well and are enjoying being with us.

“I have said many times that we always help new signings feel very welcome here, this is a family club and an easy squad to become part of.”

Meanwhile, PNE’s derby clash with Wigan at Deepdale in September has been moved a day for live coverage on Sky.

It will be played on Friday, September, 23, (7.45pm).