It is no secret thate Frankie McAvoy is a man under pressure if not from the Preston hierarchy then definitely from a very frustrated fan base after recent poor performances.
Some saw the game at the Riverside as a potential watershed for the manager but things in football never turn out as expected and the midweek game at Middlesbrough was no different.
North End again started the game fast but after the opening salvo the hosts started to take control of the game and Preston never had a sniff of the opposition goal throughout the first period.
The home team took the lead after the half hour mark. It was another set piece calamity from Preston who appear to have lost all ability to mark properly from deadball situations.
A routine corner was whipped in but McNair was allowed to run onto the ball without challenge. Naturally he buried the header into the back of the net.
The second half saw the home team take almost full control. They had numerous attempts at goal. Iversen kept Preston in the game and North End struggled to make any impact whatsoever.
McAvoy then made changes going to a four at the back with twenty minutes to go. Evans, Sinclair and Johnson all came on at varying stages.
North End had not had an attempt on goal when Middlesbrough managed to outdo Preston by failing abysmally at a set piece. Evans managed to power home a header under little challenge from the defence.
Moments later on the break Preston were gifted an opportunity. Johnson broke forward. An initial effort on goal was stopped but when clearing the ball Samba only managed to divert to Riis who curled home from inside the box.
It was the true definition of a smash and grab. For the majority of the game Preston were distinctly second best. North End will be thankful of the points as they could be crucial come the end of the season.
Preston now face high flying Fulham. It will be interesting to see how North End line up before the television cameras in a game where the visitors are likely to be heavy favourites and whether Frankie rolls the dice once again knowing his luck might just be in.