Darren Ferguson's side have found consistency. They can't beat anyone decent away from home. They quite often take the lead, when they do they often crumble like a spineless outfit. Most comebacks against North End are quite late in the day - Preston often just fold once an equaliser goes in.
The game at Wigan was no different to the rest of Preston's season. THe Whites set out in a 4-5-1 formation. Brown started instead of Parkin as expected. Coutts, Russell and Barton in the middle with Mayor and Treacy on the wings.
Wigan looked a little lost in the first half and took some time to get to grips with the match. Preston as ever passed the ball crisply and bossed it in midfield - the extra man obvioucly helping. Preston very rarely looked like turning possession into multiple chances.
A goal did come from Preston's best attacking outlet Keith Treacy. The Irish international took a left footed free kick from just outside the box. The wall jumped, Treacy rolled his shot under the wall and into the corner beyong the despairing dive of the keeper.
Moments later Preston created a chance from open play but could not convert with Coutts hitting the post. Nothing else of note happened int he first half save for a few Wigan long range attempts.
N'Zogbia came on for Wigan at half time and the Latics increased their tempo (hardly difficult as it looked like they were flatlining in the first period). Lonergan made a good save from a one on one and Wigan pressed.
Preston played on the break and had one real chance of note - Coutts played through could only bang his shot into the bar. With 20 minutes left this may have killed the game.
The game then turned on 87 minutes when Preston backed off and Gomez shot left footed from a good 25 yards. His shot skimmed into the bottom corner past the flailing Lonergan - not the first time he has been beaten from range this season.
From then on there was only one winner. Preston lacked pace and discipline. THey crumbled under pressure, again.Preston had a corner but the ball was cleared. Wigan had a two on one situation and it was a formality as they worked the ball well for N'Zogbia to slot home into an empty net.
Preston had enough possession but created only two chances in open play. They lacked a spine when it came to the crunch and failed to defend sufficiently. This is a common trend throughout most of Preston's games this season and needs to be addressed otherwise the Whites will be facing relegation.