BREAKING: Preston North End Stunned by Sunderland Stalemate - What Went Wrong?

Preston North End boss Paul Heckingbottom was left proud yet frustrated after his side’s 0-0 draw with Sunderland at Deepdale on Wednesday night.

The Lilywhites created a plethora of chances, but ultimately couldn’t find the back of the net, much to the dismay of their manager.

"I’m proud of the lads for the amount of chances they created and the way they controlled the game," Heckingbottom said in his post-match interview. "But I’m also frustrated that we couldn’t capitalize on those chances and get the three points."

Sunderland, on the other hand, were more than happy with the point, having come into the match with a defensive mindset. Their manager was delighted with the clean sheet and the resilience shown by his players.

Heckingbottom, however, refused to criticize his team’s attacking display. Instead, he opted to give credit to Sunderland’s goalkeeper, who made several top-notch saves to deny PNE the win. "Their goalkeeper was the difference maker tonight," Heckingbottom said. "He made some fantastic saves to keep them in the game."

Despite the disappointing result, Heckingbottom remains optimistic about his side’s chances in the league. With several key players set to return from injury, the Preston North End manager is confident that they will turn their form around sooner rather than later.

The 0-0 draw leaves PNE in mid-table, still within touching distance of the playoffs. While the result wasn’t the one they were hoping for, Heckingbottom’s side will look to bounce back in their next match, determined to make amends for Wednesday night’s disappointment.