Riza post-Preston North End | We have to pick ourselves up

Omer Riza spoke to the press after our defeat to Preston North End on Wednesday evening.

"We were very flat, not enough energy and intensity," Omer began. "There was a lack of quality in possession. We trained on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday and it was enough to make sure we were ready for this game.

"They’ve [Preston] played a game on Saturday and we haven’t. We were lucky to go in at 0-0 at half-time. Players want to play, but when they do play they have to do more.

"We have a turnaround now and we have to look at a few things from a coaching perspective, how we approach the next game and to try and get something out of the game."

After a 2-0 defeat to the Lilywhites, City's next fixture is a trip to face Stoke City on Saturday afternoon.

"It’s about performances and winning games, but we didn’t have it today. We’ve got to get on with it and there will be more conversations to get to the bottom of what happened today.

"We get through it by talking, getting out on the grass and applying those principles again and making sure they’re ready for the next game. You can’t think about it for too long, because you take it into the next game. You have to make sure we put it right.

"The crowd were excellent today and tried to raise the boys’ intensity levels. That shouldn’t be the case. The players should be giving that energy to the fans, not the other way around. We have to move forwards.

"For me, it’s a challenge and it’s something that I have to deal with. If I want longevity in the game, these are the things you have to come through. We’ve lost the game today and we weren’t good enough, but we have to pick ourselves up and go again in the next game.

"If I ponder too long on it, I won’t be doing my players, my staff and the Club a favour. I just need to get on with it now and look at what we need to do. There will be changes and we need to see a reaction."