The congested festive fiture list always meant there would be a drop off in performance and also a rotation of Preston's squad. Biley Wrigh surprisingly returned to the starting line up after being left out against Sheffield Wednesday.
Clarke filled in at right back as Baptiste sat this game out. Gallagher and McGeady droppedto th bench as it was always going to be too much for them to play twice in uch a short space of time after both being out injured for a few weeks.
The game was one to forget and I can only reiterate that without McGeady and Gallagher Preston are restricted in attack. Hughill was supported by Robinson and Doyle but the lack of quaity was there to be seen.
Burton had the better of the first half withut creating any meaningful chances to disturb Maxwell. The game then changed just before the break with Preston's first real attack.
Robinson broke down the left putting in a cross which evaded everyone. Clarke was waiting beyond the back post unmarked and from an acute angle hooked the ball over the keeper. It was undeserved but after the Wednesday game Preston will take what they can get.
The visitors improved after the break. Gallagher and McGeady came off the bench. Hughill who appears to miss opportunities at will managed to head wide when free from less han six yards out. He should have clinched the points but Preston managed to hold on.
Preston sit in midtable comfortably but are short on quality at present to bridge the six point gap to the play offs without McGeady and Gallagher. There is now a break from the league with the FA Cup game against Arsenal on Saturday.