Westley: We got caught on the hop

Despite Middlesbrough proving too strong for Preston on the night, when they beat them in the Capital One Cup 3-1 on Tuesday night, Graham Westley wasn't too downhearted.

Westley doesn't think this shows his side aren't ready for the step-up to the Championship, should they manage it at the end of the season: 'We were unlocked by a very good quality side. Does it scare me to think we need to compete at that level if we get promotion? No.

'We produced good performances and results against Palace and Huddersfield, and Middlesbrough were the best of the three we've faced. I'm sure if they don't get promotion to the Premier League they'll come very close to it.

'We got caught on the hop. Their quality and their shape in the early stages caught us a bit by surprise.'

The Preston boss feels that he, and his side, learned something from this game that can be taken forward though.

Westley also feels that perhaps not as much luck came his sides way: 'I was a bit unsure of how they'd play and their formation gave us problems. That's another factor of the learning curve we're going through because the lads have faced a formation they haven't face before.

'We had our moments and created our chances and it seemed like things were going to go in our favour but then we gave them a third goal and the whole place seemed to die.'

Preston have had a good run in the League Cup this season, they can be proud of their achievements but now it's back to life in league one and the priority of finishing as high as possible, if not gaining promotion, as were the aims when the season began.

Click here to join in the debate on the club forum.