Pretson lost their first home league game of 2014 to Bradford which in itself is not the end of the worls after such a terrific run. The problem is that this is Preston's third defeat on the bounce with an away game at leaders Bristol City to come this Saturday.
The game could have been called off due to international call ups but Grayson decided to go ahead with the game as Browne and Robinson were given dispensation to play. The former needn't have bothered as it was one of his poorest displays especially passing wise whilst the latter was one of the bright sparks of what was an averag eprformance.
Having said all that Preston should have come away with a point if not more after a frantic second half. Grayson had to switch personnel due to Wiseman being on international duty. King partnered Huntington at centre back whilst Clarke moved out tot he right with Buchanan on the left.
The back four became a back three in the second half as Buchanan and King were well below par. Laird came on to fill the left wing back position in the second period whislt Humprhey starved of the ball remained on the right.
McArdle gave Bradford the lead from a set piece. Preston have a problem with defending set pieces. The ball was floted in and the Bradford player inside the six yard box appeared to have all the timem in the worls to nod home. Arguments have arisen over whether the keeper should have collected or whether it was just rank bad defending.
Preston huffed and puffed but created very little in the first half. It was clear that a change of emphasis was needed hence the switch of formation at the break. The introduction of Kevin Davies also helped.
North End should have equalised shortly after the break as they had a couple of attempts cleared off the line and looked to press for the equaliser.
It seemed that Preston were to be denied until late on when Robinson drove into the box and crossed for Garner to tap home. Robinson was head and shoulders above his team mates and Preston could have had more.
Unfortunately, Preston fell asleep from the kick off. Yeates was allowed time and space on the edge of the box. King stood off and failed to close down. Yeates curled a beauty past Jones into the corner. The time and space allowed was ridiculous.
Preston poured forward and even then had chances to level but the visitors denied them in a mad scramble at the death. North end need to arrest this slump as they have fallen back into the play off places picking up no points out of the last nine. Saturday at Bristol will show how far this side can really go this season.