Preston manager Ferguson remains defiant

Last updated : 20 November 2010 By Luke Thornhill

There can be few Lilywhites supporters who expected to leave Loftus Road with all three points on Saturday, but the side did not ever look like getting anything out of the game.

"I believe I'm the right man. Results don't back me up at the moment, and as the manager I take responsibility for our position in the table. Do I feel under pressure? I'm not happy with the situation, put it that way," said Ferguson.

"It was always going to be hard enough, and conceding a goal like that after only a few minutes left us with a mountain to climb. Individual errors cost us the game and that's been the story of our season. Football isn't a complicated game, and we didn't do the basics well enough."

Crystal Palace looked poised to climb out of the relegation zone as they led Sheffield United 2-1 with little over five minutes to play at Bramall Lane.

Palace's first goal came from a penalty decision that seemed harsh, as did the first equaliser from the Blades when they were given a spot-kick despite what looked like a fair challenge from Nathaniel Clyne on Chad Evans.

Palace had regained the lead before Evans levelled for a second time, then Daniel Bogdanovic converted the third penalty of the match.

"I have had a wee chat with the referee because I thought he had a poor performance. You put a report in and an assessor looks at it but it's too late then," said George Burley, the Palace manager.

"A decision where Evans is three yards offside for their equaliser [at 2-2] cost us. When you look at their first penalty and then the offside goal, they were key to the game."

Nigel Pearson, the Hull City manager, said confidence is high at the KC Stadium following the takeover by the local businessman Assem Allam.

A goal from Robert Koren sealed a 1-0 win over Ipswich Town to ease their relegation fears.

"I'd like to think the fans feel there is more optimism about the stability of the club," said Pearson.

"The problems we have are quite complicated, but my remit remains the same - to win enough games to move up the table."