Preston North End 3 Leeds United 1: Neil says ball 'must be heavy' as he rubbishes claims about Jansson's injury

PRESTON North End boss Alex Neil rubbished suggestions that his side's second goal should not have stood in Tuesday night's 3-1 victory against Leeds United with Pontus Jansson down injured, arguing: "the ball must be really heavy because all he has done is head the ball."
NOT HAVING IT: Preston boss Alex Neil.NOT HAVING IT: Preston boss Alex Neil.
NOT HAVING IT: Preston boss Alex Neil.

Preston took a 2-1 lead en route to recording a 3-1 victory when Sean Maguire nodded home a Paul Gallagher cross seven minutes after the break but Whites head coach Paul Heckingbottom felt play should have been halted with Jansson down injured.

The Swede hit the deck when clearing the initial corner and Jansson was down on the floor when Maguire beat 'keeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell with his header.

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After receiving treatment, Jansson then left the field due to his injury to be replaced by Hugo Diaz with 33 minutes left.

Asked if he could understand why Heckingbottom was unhappy that the goal stood, Neil reasoned: "I understand that completely but see having looked at it back, the ball must be really, really heavy because all he has done is headed the ball.

"I think that tells you everything about that sort of situation.

"Nobody has made any contact or connection with him and I am sure Paul has watched it back as well.

"His defender headers the ball and then has a wee look and thinks 'we are under a bit of pressure' and falls down in the middle of the box.

"In my opinion, the referee rightly played the game on."