Preston North End Manager Defends Team Against Timewasting Criticisms
Preston North End manager Paul Heckingbottom has defended his team against criticisms of timewasting during their 1-1 draw with Sunderland on Tuesday night. The game was marked by a bizarre passage of play in which Preston made three substitutions, sparking accusations of timewasting.
Heckingbottom has explained that the delay was due to an injury to Brad Potts, who signalled for a substitution after feeling a hamstring strain. However, the referee had already stopped play to allow Ryan Porteous to receive treatment for a head injury, leading to confusion and a brief period in which Preston had 12 players on the pitch.
The Preston manager has denied that his team was timewasting, pointing out that they would not have substituted their only two right-wing backs, Kaine Kesler-Hayden and Potts, if they were trying to waste time. Heckingbottom has also revealed that Potts will miss Preston’s upcoming game against Portsmouth due to his hamstring injury.
Sunderland head coach Regis Le Bris had suggested that the controversy may have actually benefited his team, as they rallied to score an equalizing goal after the delay. However, Heckingbottom has rejected the idea that his team was trying to waste time, insisting that they were simply trying to manage their players’ injuries.
The incident has sparked debate about the rules surrounding substitutions and timewasting in football. While some have criticized Preston for their actions, others have argued that the rules need to be clarified to prevent similar incidents in the future.
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