Preston North End (A) | Hardie's Reaction

Following last-minute heartbreak in two recent 2-1 defeats, it was the earliest of goals that hindered Argyle in their latest outing.

Preston North End’s Duane Holmes scored after 38 seconds of Argyle’s trip to Deepdale, which the home side went on to win 2-1, with Liam Millar adding Preston’s second before half-time.

Ryan Hardie scored Argyle’s goal, and it came in Pilgrims’ performance that belied the eventual scoreline. The Greens dominated possession and had the bulk of the game’s chances, but were unable to score the goals that counted, beyond Hardie’s effort, which was his fifth of the Sky Bet Championship season after just six games played.

Hardie pointed to the first-minute goal conceded as a major factor in Argyle’s loss in Lancashire.

“Starting a game like that and giving ourselves a mountain to climb is not on,” he said.

“We've got to start games better to give ourselves a chance, but I think we reacted positively after we went 2-0 down very early. I think we controlled the game a bit and tried to create opportunities, which is always a positive, but the main thing is we're losing games, so that needs to change.

“In that game, we created so many chances, we controlled the ball and controlled most of the game, which has been the case this season. We're only six games in, we're learning, it's a new environment for us. We need to start turning the performances into results ultimately to make sure that we send the fans home happy.”

Preston have started the season, as well as Saturday’s game, quicker than anybody, and lead the league at this embryonic stage.

Hardie pointed towards North End’s divisional know-how as a possible factor in Argyle not being able to claw back their deficit, but says that the continuing education Argyle as experiencing, as well as their strong attitude, will stand them in good stead, going into a game against Bristol City on Tuesday.

He said: “We're 1-0 down after 30 seconds and chasing the game, from then on, it's always going to be tough against a team like Preston who are experienced in the Championship; they're going to know how to see a game out.

“They're top of the league and we came here and put on that performance. We got beat by a goal, which is something that we need to tidy up on.

“We need to get results going and start winning games instead of losing them like that. We tried and tried and tried. We've got a game Tuesday, which is another good thing as well.

“We go into every game with the same mindset that we're going to come and hopefully take all three points. I know we haven’t today, but we've got a game in three days’ time to go and do it again. The focus now is to get ready for Bristol, prepare the same way we prepare for every game and then go and take it to them.”