Alex Neil changed his starting eleven once again which shows a lack of consistency in selection and more importantly the manager does not seem to know his best starting eleven at present.
Barker was given his first start on the left which was justified whilst Burke started on the opposite flank. Robinson was given the lone frontman role with Nmecha declared injured.
Gallagher returned to the midfield whilst Browne played in the advanced role behind Robinson. The defence was also changed with Fisher dropped for his poor start to the season. Clarke played at full back with Huntington and Davies in the middle.
Preston started well and took an early lead. Barker managed to play a through ball to Robinson. The frontman hesitated but managed to round the keeper to give North End the lead.
Moments later the crowd were all up on their feet in admiratio. The ball bounced and dropped to Alan Browne of the edge of the box. He twisted and with his left foot smashed in a shot to give Preston a two goal lead.
North End looked comfortable and Bolton were not befitting of a team sitting in the early play off positions. The game then turned on a howler from keeper Declan Rudd.
Ameobi swivelled and curled an innocuous left foot shot from just outside the box. It did have curl on it but nothing significant. Rudd went down to save but inexplicably the ball somehow made it into the back of the net.
The visitors seized the initiative and Preston were vulnerable. Olowski was given room inside the box and smashed a right footed shot off the underside of the bar into the net.
The half time whistle came and the second forty five was a little tamer. There were chances but none converted. Strangely Neil brought on Barkhuizen and Johnson at half time but neither had any impact.
The game ended all square but that was not the end of the afternoon. Pearson had been involved in a niggling battle all afternoon. After the final whistle there was a coming together which saw Pearson sent off for head butting Williams whilst the Bolton play was booked.
The international break has come at a handy time. North End need to take stock and get players back for. The early season disciplinary problems need to be sorted as well as early season defensive issues.
It is still early days but if Preston fail to pick up wins at home combined with a miserable away record then the team could be faced with difficulties moving forward.