Three errors gifted Sheffield Wednesday the vistory and the Yorkshire side will not have an easier victory this season as Preston pressed the self destruct button.
Grayson had selection problems of the bad kind. Garner and Wright were suspended. Huntington was out injured and Vermijl could not play against his parent club. Preston were left with one fully fir centre half until it was announced Paddy Mccarthy had signed on loan as a centre back from Crystal Palace.
The only positive news pre-match was that Gallagher was back on the bench but wasn't deemed ready to get onto the pitch. Preston lined up with a 4-4-2 formation with their bbest outfield player, Daniel Johnson, playing on the right wing.
The first 44 minutes was abject at best. It was a game between two very average sides. I'm not sure there was a hot on goal and the game was drifting but that suited Preston.
The only noteworthy thing to happen was an injury to Mccarthy who hobbled off after nine minutes of his debut and the injury looked serious.
Woods moved to centre back alongside Clarke as Humphrey filled in at right back. Three players were now playing out of position but Wednesday failed to trouble the visitors.
On the stroke of half time Preston pressed the self destruct button. Clarke and Woods allowed a long ball to bounce, failed to clear the ball and subsequently did not make a tackle allowing Lee to casually walk trough and slot past Pickford.
Wednesday came out in the second half with more belief and forced Pickford into a save from long range. Shortly after, Preston's defence became the Keystone Cops.
The ball was under control albeit in the six yard box. All Welsh had to do was either clear for a corner or to the sidelines. Instead he played the ball straight to a Wednesday player in the box who had the simple task of placing past Pickford. There was a touch on the line but Pudill was credited with the goal.
Grayson then made a double substitution taking off the ineffective May and Keane. Doyle and Hughill were the replacements and for the first time in the game Preston began to attack and play.
Reach looked good on the left. Preston had two great opportunities to equaliser. Hughill and Doyle both had free headers int he box which should have been converted. Both missed and that is the difference between the Championship and Leaguue One.
Preston did finally convert when Browne converted from close range after Wednesday failed to clear a corner. Pressure was applied and Reach had a shot blocked on the line but the equaliser would not come.
Wednesday sealed the game in injury time. Pickford was out of his area most likely trying to tell how his defence to play. He lost the ball and Mcgugan lobbed the keeper from around forty yards to end the game.
The score shows a convincing win but the reality was this was a game between two poor sides with one putting in an inept defensive performance giiving the other an easy victory.
Things have to change soon before Preston get cut adrift. The last time Preston were in the Championship they had more loan players than they could count and made defensive mistakes which were costly and amateurish. The same thing appears to be happening again,