Leeds failed to take advantage of a 60th-minute red card shown to Preston midfielder Ben Pearson and were rescued by the crossbar in the dying moments of a goalless encounter on Saturday.
The result at Elland Road maintained United’s unbeaten start to the season but Borthwick-Jackson, who made his league debut after a loan move from Manchester United last week, described the draw against 10-man Preston as “frustrating”.
Chris Wood failed to convert a golden second-half chance after being played clean through by Pablo Hernandez and Hernandez himself saw a late effort saved by goalkeeper Chris Maxwell but Leeds rode their luck in injury-time when a shot from North End substitute Josh Harrop cannoned off the bar.
Borthwick Jackson said: “We should have got three points but a point is valuable as the season goes on. A point can be crucial to picking up play-off (places) and a point is better than nothing.
“You get these frustrating games and they were out for a draw towards the end as we pushed for the win. You have to take advantage (of Preston being down to 10 men) but as the game went on they had their game plan and it worked for them.”
Leeds will contest the third of three home matches in a week – the first a League Cup win over Port Vale last Wednesday – when Fulham come to Elland Road.
The West London club, who dramatically beat United to a Championship play-off position in the final month of last season, have opened their campaign with back-to-back draws and will be without suspended defender Tomas Kalas after he was sent off in the first minute of their visit to Reading on Saturday.
“Everyone is frustrated but we have to bounce back Tuesday and pick up three points,” Borthwick-Jackson said. “I think this is a promotion-winning squad here and that’s what the aim is for this season.
“Everyone has gelled well, training’s competitive and everyone’s trying to make everyone else better players.”
Borthwick-Jackson arrived from Old Trafford a week ago, taking up the second loan of his fledgling career after a spell with Wolverhampton Wanderers last season.
The 20-year-old started against Preston after first-choice left-back Gaetano Berardi was lost to a dislocated shoulder in a 3-2 win over Bolton Wanderers on the first weekend of the new term.
Borthwick-Jackson, who revealed he had picked up a minor injury towards full-time, was influential in the closing stages, spraying in crosses from the left wing as Leeds attempted to break down Preston’s rigid defence.
“I grew into the game as it went on and it was frustrating to get a little niggle towards the end,” he said.“I feel I can bring more to the team and I’m 110 per cent dedicated to Leeds for the season. I’ll do all I can.
“Obviously there’s a rivalry between the clubs (Leeds and Manchester United) but I’m a Leeds player and I am going to work as hard as I can to get this team where they should be.
“I’ve settled in very quickly and I’m glad to be here. I just want to play regular football.”
Read more at: http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/leeds-united-0-pne-0-defender-frustrated-but-determined-to-focus-on-bigger-picture-1-8700980