Ferguson has overseen 11 wins during his 39 games in charge of Preston

Preston manager Darren Ferguson says he takes "100% responsibility" for the club's current on-field difficulties.

North End slipped to second from bottom of the Championship following a 3-2 home defeat by Scunthorpe on Tuesday.

"I'm not passing the buck," Ferguson told BBC Radio Lancashire. "I pick the team and tell them how to play.

"What I need is time but we also need to win games. I know the potential we've got but no-one is happy at the club looking at our league position."

Preston staged a recent mini-revival, which included an impressive 6-4 comeback win over Leeds.

I ask for patience because I know we'll get it right Preston manager Darren Ferguson

But after back-to-back defeats against Derby and then Scunthorpe, North End are now just a point above bottom-of-the-table Bristol City.

Ferguson, however, is refusing to blame any players individually for the downturn.

"It's not deliberate," said the former Peterborough boss. "They make mistakes, they're human beings. Perhaps confidence has gone a little bit but they're going to have to play through it.

"I've been in this game a long time and it's not what people perceive it to be with players just picking up their wages.

"It can be a difficult job at times and getting booed is not unusual. I'm never going to criticise any fan for that. They just want to see a winning team, so do I. But I ask for patience because I know we'll get it right."

Preston host fellow strugglers Crystal Palace at Deepdale on Saturday.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version